Courtesy of John Sutton at the Environment Agency Thames West Region we have been provided with the latest water situation report for the region which is attached here as a PDF.

 

The February summary is as follows:

‘February was another dry month with below average rainfall for West Thames Area. Rainfall has been below average in 12 of the 17 months since October 2012, resulting in the second driest corresponding October to February period since records began in 1920. Mean February river flows were exceptionally or notably low for the time of year at 14 of our 15 indicator sites and groundwater levels at the end of February were notably or exceptionally low at 9 of our 11 indicator sites. On the 20th February the south east of England officially moved into drought.’