Yorkshire Just Had Its Driest Spring In 132 Years; Moorland Fires Spike As Crops Begin To Fail

[hatrack]

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Met Office data shows Yorkshire recorded its warmest spring for mean temperature this year since records began in 1884. Dave Kaye, the director of water at Yorkshire Water, said: “We had one of the driest springs on record, which has impacted our reservoir levels, meaning they are much lower than normal for this time of year. Without significant rainfall in the coming months, temporary usage restrictions are a possibility.”

The impacts of drought are already being felt in the region. Hot and dry weather can increase wildfires, and there have been several on the Pennine moorland, including large fires at Marsden Moor, Wessenden and Rishworth Moor. Farmers have also reported the beginnings of crop failures. Low water levels have made navigation difficult on canals and some rivers in the region, and there are a number of closures and restrictions in place to preserve water across the Canal & River Trust network, predominantly on the Leeds & Liverpool canal.

People across England have been asked to conserve water as summer begins amid low river flows, groundwater levels and reservoir levels.

Claire Barrow, the Environment Agency’s planning manager for Yorkshire, said: “Our climate is changing, and we had 22 days of almost no recorded rainfall in May. “While we have had some rain at the start of June, it has not been enough to reverse the impacts of the prolonged dry weather.

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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/12/yorkshire-enters-drought-after-driest-spring-in-132-years

[surfered]

1. What a beautiful area. All creatures, big and small.