BriefTea
Every story in sixty words
Get the free app no ads · no paywallExplained in plain English
Heavy rain on very dry ground struggles to soak in, often running off as surface water instead. This means it doesn't replenish underground aquifers or reservoirs effectively, which are crucial for long-term water supplies. So, while the immediate impact might be localised flooding, the deeper drought conditions persist.
Stories that explain this
Heavy rain to bring floods but won't end UK droughtRelated explainers
When was the last big drought? What is a hosepipe ban? Who is Wessex Water? What does '4mm of rain' mean? What causes a drought? How does climate change affect rain? Is climate change causing droughts? What is a drought?The full catalogue
Browse every card filed under W →We would like to count visits and see which links bring readers here. That means storing a random ID in your browser. No cookies, no ads, no profile. How it works.