Heavy April rain not enough to end drought
Heavy rain over much of the country, provoking flash floods in some areas and severe weather warnings from the Met Office, is set to continue through the weekend but is unlikely to ease the drought gripping most of England. Flash floods closed the centre of Pocklington in Yorkshire after heavy rain, and nearby villages and transport systems were affected. In the north-east of England, three flood alerts and one flood warning are in place, while rain can also be expected in parts of the south. But while the wet weather may put a dampener on the weekend, if you are among the 20 million people covered by drought restrictions at the same time as grey skies and thunderstorms, do not count on being able to use a hosepipe any time soon – the rain is not likely to be enough to recharge reservoirs or even return soil moisture levels to normal, and the picture has varied widely across the country.
