Scotland facing driest spell in over 20 years
Cracked reservoirs resemble deserts as just a fifth of usual rain falls
SCOTLAND is on red alert after the driest six months in more than two decades.
Reservoirs are cracked and empty following the lowest rainfall since 1995, according to the Met Office.
Between last October and the end of April only 70 per cent of the average amount of rain fell, leaving rivers low and water reserves at a trickle.
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency said some areas received only 20 per cent of average rainfall.
The dry spell has seen water marks drop in the River Kelvin in Glasgow, the Clyde at New Lanark and at Ryat Linn Reservoir near Barrhead, Renfrewshire.
The hardest hit area appears to be Caaf Reservoir near Dalry, Ayrshire, which was left parched. Between Octo-
‘Greater demand for water resources’
ber and April, experts at the Met Office recorded only 667.8mm (26in) – less than the 715mm (28in) seen in the same period between October 1995 and April 1996 when there were hosepipe bans.
Met Office spokesman Nicky Maxey said: ‘October to March has been the driest six-month period we have seen since the mid 1990s.’
Forecasters say rain is on its way this weekend, but experts fear it will not be enough and a contingency plan is being put in place over coming weeks.
A SEPA spokesman said: ‘There is the potential for an environmental impact on rivers and burns if conditions worsen, as activities such as irrigation will place a greater demand on water resources.’
Scots can expect highs of 18C (64F) in Aberdeen today and lows of 9C (48F) in Dumfries overnight. Tomorrow will be brighter and warmer but with scattered showers and sunny spells, bringing highs of 19C (66F) in Aberdeen.