US EditionSpring rain brings an end to drought in western Mass.
- England experienced its driest start to spring since 1956 with March and April rainfall well below average across most of the UK.
- This dryness followed previous extremes such as the 2022 drought and heatwaves and was caused by persistent low rainfall and dry soil conditions.
- As a result, reservoirs are lower than last year especially in northern England, farmers began early irrigation, and wildfires were reported in Cumbria, Derbyshire, and Dorset.
- "The dry conditions mean farmers have started to irrigate crops earlier than normal," said NFU vice president Rachel Hallos, noting variable impacts across farming sectors.
- The Environment Agency has highlighted a moderate chance of drought this summer, urging water companies to enhance leak repairs and encourage water conservation, while officials prepare to discuss drought risks.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Spring rain brings an end to drought in western Mass.
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - Our ongoing drought that began last fall is finally over. We have seen quite a bit of rain this spring, and all the wet weather has finally brought an end to our prolonged drought. Our drought began last fall, and in November, the very dry conditions led to brush fires all across western Massachusetts. Then this spring, we started to get more rain, and conditions gradually improved, and the persistent rain we've been get…
Duluth News Tribune
John Wheeler: Drought of 1988-89 was, perhaps, the worst weather disaster of the last 50 years
FARGO — Widespread drought across much of North America, particularly in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, during the summers of 1988 and 1989 was, perhaps, the worst weather disaster of the last 50 years. Thousands of heat-related deaths were associated with the drought, as well as damages exceeding $60 billion ($160 billion in 2025 dollars). It was the worst drought since the 1930s. The cause of the drought is still not entirely known. A …
Hosepipe ban looms amid 'medium' drought risk - as England suffers driest start to spring since 1950s
A "medium" risk of drought has been declared, with reservoirs levels dropping, and farmers struggling to grow crops after the sunniest April on record and less than half the average rainfall in March.
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