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Climate change: Driest months in 40 years trigger drought in Wales
The summer heatwave has left the usually lush countryside of Wales parched. Some areas have witnessed heavy showers in recent days, but parts of the country received just 65.5 percent of the average monthly rainfall in July, according to the Express.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said the threshold to trigger drought status in south-west Wales was met yesterday.
It came after it experienced its driest five-month period, between March and July, in 40 years.
The hosepipe ban will affect households in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.
Natalie Hall of NRW said: “While certain parts of Wales may be experiencing rain, it can still take a long time to recover from drought, making water a precious resource.”
Keen gardener Wendy Kinver, of Pont Trecynny, near Fishguard, said: “Normally we have such wet weather through summers and winters."
“I really can’t understand why Welsh Water haven’t managed to store the water sufficiently.”
But Ian Christie, managing director at the utility company, said: “If we don’t take action now then there would be a real risk of further restrictions later, which is something we want to avoid."
“With no significant rain in the forecast, it is important that we all work together to make sure the water continues to flow.”
Heatwave in Britain leads to boom in demand for ice cram makers
According to the Met Office, heatwave is an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year, which may be accompanied by high humidity.
A UK heatwave threshold is met when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold. The threshold varies by UK county.
levantnews-express
