Despite flash floods and gale-force winds battering the country, with more expected this weekend, Britain’s drought worsened last week – because rain is falling in the wrong months, reports Paul Cahalan at the UK Independent. The UK is headed for a record wet April. The recent weather has caused flooding, traffic chaos and power cuts. Nearly 4 inches of rain have fallen so far this April, which normally averages about 2.5 inches. Yet, many of the areas at risk of floods are currently in a state of drought after two unusually dry winters. Furthermore, the Environment Agency said that the drought, the worst since 1921, actually worsened recently because downpours failed to filter deep underground – instead falling on hard, compacted soil caused by prolonged dry weather. It meant that the water ran off overground, causing flooding, while other rainfall has been lost to evaporation, with rising temperatures, and growing plants. An agency spokesman said: “Summer rain can replenish rivers and reservoirs and what we see above ground in the short term. But what it doesn’t do is refill the aquifers.” Elsewhere, parts of Europe are experiencing unusual heat.
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It’s the right rain, but the wrong month. Despite flash floods and gale-force winds battering the country, with more expected this weekend, Britain’s drought worsened last week – because rain is falling in the wrong months. The Independent
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