Driest February in 30 years prompts Environment Agency to ask people to use water wisely ahead of summer

England has had its driest February in 30 years, according to provisional figures from the Met Office.

Despite fears that a weather system which created the Beast from the East would bring snow and icy showers, the meteorological winter concluded with a dry and mild month for most – prompting a request for people to use water wisely as we edge closer to spring and summer.

And while freezing temperatures and icy spells could still be on the cards for early March, rainfall has been in short supply in the past few weeks.

With, on average, just 15.3mm of rain for the month, it marks the eighth driest February in records going back to 1836 and the driest second month of the year since 1993.

Areas in the south and east were particularly arid, with Essex, Greater London and Bedfordshire recording figures that put the month in their five driest Februarys on record. Essex had the least amount of rainfall with a provisional 3.5mm – just 8% of its average.

The dry theme was replicated across most of the UK, with Wales and Northern Ireland also seeing significantly less rainfall than average which contributed to the UK having 43.4mm in total – 45% of its average.

Dr Mark McCarthy, of the Met Office’s National Climate Information Centre, said: “The second half of January was largely dry and that theme continued through February with high pressure centred over the UK for much of the month, helping to repel advancing fronts and keep low pressure systems away, and resulting in a notable long winter dry spell.

"That high pressure has principally, but not exclusively, been focused around the southern half of the UK, meaning southern England has been particularly dry, with just 9.7mm of rain falling here, which is just 16% of its average."

After one of the driest summers on record last year, water companies across the country brought in hosepipe bans as part of efforts to control supplies.

There had been some expectations that the bans could last into 2023, but the restrictions came to an end in November for most when heavy downpours brought close to two months of rainfall in just two weeks.

Environment Agency executive director and National Drought Group chair John Leyland said that while most water levels across much of the country have returned to normal, low rainfall in recent weeks highlights the importance of remaining vigilant.

"We cannot rely on the weather alone, which is why the Environment Agency, water companies and our partners are taking action to ensure water resources are in the best possible position for the summer and for future droughts," he said.

"As ever, it's important that we all continue to use water carefully to protect not just our water resources, but our precious environment and the wildlife that depends on it."