Submitted by Alannah Killeen on
February was notable for the turbulent weather, including three named storms in a week, which brought wet and extremely windy weather for the UK. Rainfall totals were above average for much of the UK, particularly across northern and western areas. Correspondingly, river flows for February were generally above normal, notably or exceptionally so in Northern Ireland, Wales, southern Scotland and central and northern England. Winter flows (December-February) were less extreme, although still above normal in central England. Soil moisture deficits remained negligible across the country and groundwater levels rose at most sites, with a large response to rainfall recorded in the Carboniferous Limestone. Reservoir levels increased in most impoundments and stocks were above average at the national scale. In the short-term, saturated catchments in northern and western imply an increased sensitivity to heavy rainfall, however latest Outlooks for below average spring rainfall and receding river flows evident in early March, lessen this risk. Seasonal recessions in the southern Chalk have begun earlier than expected and a dry spring forecast could lead to low levels over the next few months
