Storm Austen: Why a rainy week won’t end the drought

Heavy rainfall is expected across parts of the country as Storm Austen hits the UK.

Regius Professor Hannah Cloke explains why a rainy week will not alleviate the UK’s drought issues. 

Videos of Professor Cloke discussing the impact of heavy rain are free to watch and download via We Transfer  

For interviews, contact the University of Reading Press Office on 0118 378 5757 or pressoffice@reading.ac.uk

Hannah Cloke, Regius Professor in Meteorology and Climate Science, said: “After a summer of repeated heatwaves and long dry spells, heavy rain is welcome. But a few wet days will not end the drought, which the Environment Agency declared severe across parts of southern England only last week, and we all still need to use water carefully.

“The problem is what happens to rain when it lands. After months of dry weather, the ground is parched. Much of the first rainfall is soaked up by thirsty soils and plants, or runs off hard, baked ground into rivers and drains. Only once the soil is thoroughly wet does water start to seep down and refill the groundwater stores that lie beneath our feet.

“Those underground stores, known as aquifers, supply much of the drinking water in the south and east of England. They respond slowly. It can take weeks or months for rain to make its way down through the rock, and they need a sustained period of above-average rainfall to recover from a dry summer. Reservoirs can recover faster, but they were drawn down heavily over the summer and will need steady rain through the autumn and winter to refill.

“In short, one wet spell is a good start, not the finish line. Recovery is likely to take many months rather than weeks. Until then, the drought is still with us, and small changes at home, such as shorter showers, fixing leaks and not leaving taps running, still make a real difference.”

How to prepare

"Strange as it sounds, heavy rain is a common cause of water supply problems. Flash floods after heavy rainfall can shut treatment works, contaminate supplies, cut power to pumping stations and damage pipes. Even without flooding, rain-churned rivers can overwhelm treatment works. Storms bring their own risks, bringing down power lines and leaving homes and pumping stations without electricity, sometimes for days. Add burst mains and drought-depleted reservoirs, and the risks soon mount up.

Simple steps help. Keep a supply of bottled water at home, enough for everyone in your household for three days. The government’s Be Ready guidance suggests 3 litres per person per day for drinking, with more needed for cooking and washing, and pets need water too. Build it up gradually rather than all at once, and keep it alongside some non-perishable food, a torch, spare batteries and a basic first aid kit. 

If you rely on regular medication, try to keep a little extra where you can, and request repeat prescriptions up to five working days before you need them. A battery or wind-up FM radio is useful if power and mobile networks go down. It is also worth knowing who in your street or family might need extra help, such as older neighbours or anyone who relies on medical equipment.

"After a summer of heatwaves and wildfires, and with flooding expected this winter, these risks are no longer remote. A little preparation now, and careful use of the water we have, helps everyone."

READ MORE: Storm Austen: expert explains forecast and potential impact