Submitted by Katie Muchan on
November was generally mild (the fifth warmest for the UK, and third for Scotland, in records from 1910) with south-westerly winds and outbreaks of rain, interspersed by periods of high pressure with patchy fog. Rainfall was above average in the north-west, but for the UK as a whole it was below average, most notably in some eastern areas. Following a wet October, river flows in many catchments started high, and average November flows for some rivers were notably high, particularly in the north-west. Elsewhere, however, average monthly river flows were predominantly normal or above normal. Groundwater levels increased at the majority of index wells, with the recharge season widely underway. Levels were normal or above at most index sites, with some exceptionally high levels observed. Reservoir stocks were close to normal at the national scale, and November saw increases in some impoundments in western Britain (e.g. Northern Command Zone and Loch Thom). Overall, despite a generally dry November, current conditions indicate a healthy water resources outlook entering the winter. Conversely, with some groundwater levels above normal and soils wetted across most of the country, above average rainfall over the next few months would carry an elevated risk of winter flooding.
