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Weather tracker: dry spring in northern Europe sets off drought warnings Weather tracker: dry spring in northern Europe sets off drought warnings
(about 1 hour later)
Belgium and UK on course to experience driest spring in more than 100 years due to high-pressure blocking pattern Belgium and UK could experience driest spring in more than 100 years as high pressure dominates
North-west Europe has experienced an unusually dry spring so far. Belgium has been particularly dry, experiencing four times less rain than in a typical spring according to data from the Uccle measuring station (as of early May), with fears that this season will be the driest spring in 130 years. This has led the country to put in place an extreme drought warning. North-west Europe has been experiencing an unusually dry spring. Belgium, in particular, has had four times less rain than it would typically expect, according to data from the Uccle measuring station, stoking fears that this will be the driest spring in 130 years. This has triggered a warning for extreme drought.
The UK has also had a very dry spring with only 80.6mm of rain recorded so far, making this the driest spring in more than a century with only two weeks to go. England has been particularly affected by the lack of rain, seeing the driest February to April period since 1956, with parts of northern England, including the often rainy city of Manchester, experiencing more than 20 days without a drop of rain. The UK has also recorded only 80.6mm of rain, making it the driest spring in more than a century with only two weeks to go. England has been particularly affected and notched up the driest February to April period since 1956, with parts of northern England, including the often soggy city of Manchester, experiencing more than 20 days without a drop of rain.
Northern France is also at risk of seeing these drought-like conditions, with fears that this spring is shaping up to be even drier than the record-breaking year of 1976. However, unlike 1976, soils across northern France are much wetter thanks to severe rainfall in January, which is not the case for Belgium and the UK. Northern France is also on the brink of drought-like conditions amid concerns that this spring is shaping up to be even drier than in 1976. Unlike that record-breaking year, soils across the region are much wetter after severe rainfall in January, which is not the case for Belgium and the UK.
This lack of precipitation comes from a high-pressure blocking pattern that has been in place over north-west Europe over the past couple of months, suppressing rainfall, and leading to very dry, and often warm and sunny conditions. This has had a significant impact on agriculture with soils becoming increasingly very dry, as well as river transport with river levels becoming unusually low for the time of year. This lack of precipitation is caused by a high-pressure blocking pattern that has been over north-west Europe for a couple of months, suppressing rainfall and leading to arid and often warm, sunny conditions. This has had a significant impact on agriculture, and soils have become increasingly dry, as well as river transport, with water levels falling unusually low for the time of year.
Conditions are expected to remain dry here for the next week or so, but low pressure is likely to move in from the west between late May and early June, which could bring some much-needed relief to many industries. It is expected to remain dry in this region for the next week or so, but low pressure is likely to move in from the west between late May and early June, which could bring some much-needed relief to many industries.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Austin and San Antonio in Texas shattered their all-time daily temperature records, with highs soaring above 38C on Wednesday, which is about 8C above the May norm. A potent mix of drought, high pressure and a searing dryline – the boundary between humid and dry air – has fuelled the heatwave, bringing hot and dry air from the south. Scorching temperatures are expected to persist into the weekend as high pressure continues to dominate. Canada has been feeling the burn too, as Winnipeg and southern parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan broke records dating back to 1958, with temperatures hitting 33.8C on Monday. This week Austin and San Antonio in Texas shattered their daily temperature records, after soaring above 38C on Wednesday – about 8C above the May norm.
A potent mix of drought, high pressure and a searing dryline – the boundary between humid and dry air – has fuelled the heatwave, bringing hot, arid air from the south. Scorching temperatures are expected to persist into the weekend as high pressure continues to dominate.
Canada has been feeling the burn, too: Winnipeg and southern parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan broke records dating to 1958, hitting 33.8C on Monday.