Submitted by Eugene Magee on
July was cool with average rainfall. However, it was a month of two halves — the first fortnight was notable for being the coldest start to July since 2004 with heavy rainfall and reports of surface water flooding. The second half was characterised by warmer than average conditions and more settled weather prior to thundery weather at month end. Total rainfall was above average for England and parts of north-west Scotland but below average for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. River flows were widely normal to above normal across much of the UK, and in south‑east England many remained notably high, exceptionally so in some cases. Reservoir stocks fell but remained close to or above average at the national scale. Groundwater levels continued to fall across the UK but remained above normal at the majority of sites. With an outlook for August-October of normal to above normal river flows and groundwater levels across eastern parts of the UK, there are no immediate water resources concerns for the end of summer and into early autumn.
