Belgium and UK on course to experience driest spring in more than 100 years due to high-pressure blocking pattern
North-west Europe has experienced an unusually dry spring so far. Belgium has been particularly dry, experiencing four times less rain than in a typical spring according to data from the Uccle measuring station (as of early May), with fears that this season will be the driest spring in 130 years. This has led the country to put in place an extreme drought warning.
The UK has also had a very dry spring with only 80.6mm of rain recorded so far, making this the driest spring in more than a century with only two weeks to go. England has been particularly affected by the lack of rain, seeing the driest February to April period since 1956, with parts of northern England, including the often rainy city of Manchester, experiencing more than 20 days without a drop of rain.
