Lancashire will be among first regions to recover from 'exceptionally hot' summer

Lancashire is one of the only regions in the country expected to “fully recover” this year following an exceptionally dry summer, according to the Environment Agency.

The National Drought Group, which includes the government, Met Office, regulators, water companies, farmers, Canal & River Trust, anglers, and conservation experts, is now meeting weekly to discuss what to do as almost three-quarters of England remains in drought.

It follows a summer of five heatwaves, including 12 consecutive days of temperatures above 30C, which the Met Office described as their hottest year on record.

In spring, England saw only 54 per cent of its typical rainfall, and only 64 per cent in summer, leading to a surge in water demand and “an enormous strain on supplies”.

While Lancashire avoided being included in the official drought list, it did suffer a dry period as water levels in reservoirs, rivers, and waterways dropped below average.

With the second half of September predicted to remain largely dry, the Environment Agency has tabled predictions on how quickly the UK will return to normal after the summer heat - with Lancashire likely set for a speedy recovery.

In what the Agency described as their “most likely scenario” based on weather predictions, Lancashire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Cheshire are predicted to move into a recovery phase in October, and be declared back to normal as soon as November.

They said that ‘most areas’ in the UK would begin to see a fragile recovery by December, but warned that Devon & Cornwall and East Anglia could still remain in drought by next April.

The incoming El Niño storm is expected to bring wet and windy conditions to the UK this autumn.

However, if the weather in Lancashire remains drier ahead of El Niño (seeing about 80 per cent of its average rainfall) the Environment Agency said the region would only begin a real recovery in December, with water levels not expected to return to normal until early 2027.

They said there was a 25 per cent chance of this occurring.

“The latest Met Office seasonal September to November outlook points towards the increased likelihood of a warmer and wetter than average autumn, with the signal for unsettled, wet and windy weather becoming stronger later in the season,” said the Met Office’s Sarah Davies.

“This means there is a greater chance of periods of heavy rain and strong winds during October and November than we would typically expect at this time of year.

“Looking further ahead, evidence from previous El Niño events suggests there may be an increased likelihood of colder, drier and quieter conditions developing later in the winter.

“However, El Niño is only one of several drivers that influence the UK’s weather, and it does not determine exactly what conditions we will see.”

Nationwide, the government has now produced a £65 million package to support farmers affected by drought, and a further £100 million to strengthen the country’s capacity to deal with extreme weather.

They have called on water companies nationwide to continue water efficiency measures, and said more reservoirs, trees, and wetlands would be the solution to another extremely hot summer.

“Water supplies are limited and we continue to balance the needs of agriculture, public water supply and our environment,” said Environment Agency CEO Philip Duffy.

A few weeks of rain cannot reverse the deficit we face from the very dry spring and summer.”