Water levels in Caithness could reach record breaking low this month
With little rain expected over the next fortnight, a Caithness-based weather pundit says that this month could turn out to be the driest on record.
Keith Banks, who writes a weather column for the paper, says that a resurgent Omega high is blocking the usual west-to-east passage of the Atlantic weather systems across Scotland.
”Wick's driest May to date was that of 2008. The amount logged for that month was 9.3mm (0.37 of an inch).
”Last month was exceptionally dry across Caithness and other parts of the far north. Just 13.4mm (0.53 of an inch) of rain fell on Wick, making it the town's driest April since that of 1966 and the third most dry since 1910.
“The bad news for those seeking any rainfall is that there is no prospect of any for the foreseeable future. The Omega high that is currently responsible for the fine settled weather will continue to dominate the weather across the far north.
“However, on a more cheerful note, temperatures should rise across parts presently exposed to a chilly north-easterly breeze. Omega blocking patterns are likely to become more frequent as the temperature gradient between the North Pole and the Equator becomes less steep. This trend will cause the polar front jet stream to buckle and meander more often, creating the conditions that facilitate the development of Omega blocking anticyclones.”
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is urging people to avoid the use of naked flames outdoors at all costs, as much of Scotland continues to face an extreme risk of wildfire. Last month, Thurso was affected by two wildfire outbreaks, which are being investigated by police as malicious acts.
A very high to extreme risk of wildfire was in place for areas across the country over the weekend and Monday. An extreme warning is now in place for all areas of Scotland from Thursday, May 15, until Monday, May 19.
Wildfires have the potential to burn for days and devastate vast areas of land and wildlife, and threaten the welfare of nearby communities. The vast majority of wildfires are started by human behaviour, and the SFRS is urging communities to avoid lighting fires and using naked flames while this warning is in place.
Remote and rural communities, in particular, are impacted by wildfire. The SFRS has an array of wildfire prevention and safety advice on its website.
Scottish Water is calling on people to use water as efficiently as possible in homes and gardens, and help the utility to protect resources and maintain normal supplies across the country.
With forecasts of more dry and warm weather to come, following the driest start to the year across Scotland since 1964, the company is working to ensure its supply systems can cope with demand, which has increased during the recent dry weather, and is urging people to help save water.
Rainfall for May so far has been even lower across most of the country, with a continuation of high pressure and very little rainfall forecast until at least May 22.
In addition, we are individually using an average of 178 litres of water per person per day, which is higher than in England and Wales where people use an average of 137 litres per person per day.
Scottish Water is working to ensure it can maintain public water supply to customers in parts of the country affected by increased peak water use and is using tankers to supplement normal water supplies in some parts of the country.
Scottish Water posts has more information on saving water at: www.yourwateryourlife.co.uk/save
Most of mainland Scotland’s east coast has now moved to ‘Moderate Scarcity’, according to the latest Water Situation Report from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
This follows on from a drier than normal autumn and winter with some areas of the east now having 11 months of below average rainfall. With no significant rainfall currently forecast, it is likely that river and ground conditions will remain very dry over the next week.
All businesses with licences to take water from the environment have a responsibility to use water economically.
Claire Tunaley, senior hydrologist with SEPA, said: “We’re seeing the kind of conditions we normally associate with late summer in some places – and it’s only May.
“Groundwater and river levels across the east are already hitting record lows. With parts of Scotland now at 11 months of below-average rainfall, it will take above-average rainfall over an extended period to recover to normal levels, especially for groundwater levels.
“Our message is clear: if you abstract water from our environment – whether you work in agriculture, energy, industry, distilling, food and drink or the leisure sector – you must take action now to help protect your operations and help safeguard Scotland’s rivers and wildlife in the weeks ahead.”