Flash flood warning as UK faces heavy downpours after record drought

Environment
21 Aug 2026 • 3:48 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Flash flood warning as UK faces heavy downpours after record drought

  • The Met Office has warned of a risk of flash flooding across parts of the UK as heavy rain falls on ground baked dry by drought.
  • Morecambe in Lancashire recorded 52.5mm of rain in 24 hours, representing a third of the region's total rainfall between June and mid-August.
  • The National Drought Group warned that current rainfall is insufficient to end the drought, with UK reservoir levels falling to 62.6 per cent.
  • Showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue before sunnier conditions return over the weekend, ahead of further rain next week.
  • Hydrologists warn that several months of sustained autumn and winter rainfall will be required for water resources and river flows to recover.
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