Photos reveal luscious green fields compared to 365 days earlier …
What a difference a year makes! Photos reveal luscious green grass where it lay brown and scorched 365 days ago when the UK was sweltering in record-breaking 40C heat
Photos have revealed the difference in Britain’s green spaces this summer a year on since they turned to dust during the 40C drought.
Parks, gardens, cricket pitches, sports grounds and golf courses in the UK turned into bowls of dust last August following weeks of exceptionally hot weather.
But aerial pictures taken by a drone this week show a stark comparison to last summer’s desert looking landscape as this year’s unusually wet July has meant lawns are looking green and luscious.
The Met Office said last year that it had been the driest July since 1984, with an average of 37.7mm (1.5in) of rain, which left the country struggling with a severe drought.
However, this year conditions were almost the polar opppsite, as forecaster said it was the wettest July since 2009 and was cooler than June for the first time in more than half a century.
What a difference a year makes: Aerial images show scorched earth at the Cambridge University sports grounds (left) compared with lush lawns one year later (right)
Pictures from August 2022 show shrivelled lawns at King College’s Cambridge during the summer drought
Images taken today (August 1) show green lawns outside King’s College Cambridge
South east and central southern England saw an average of only 5mm of rain in July last year, while East Anglia had 5.4mm.
England as a whole saw an average of 23.1mm, the lowest figure for the month since 1935 and the seventh lowest July total on record.
Meanwhile, England saw more than four times as much rain in July as the same month last year – with 108mm falling.
The unsettled weather is set to continue into August, according to the Met Office, with showers and longer spells of rain expected this week.
With generally cloudy and breezy conditions from the Atlantic, temperatures will also remain on the cool side.
A deep low-pressure system will rapidly approach from the west tomorrow, crossing the UK on Wednesday and bringing another day of unseasonably wet and windy conditions, lasting into Thursday.
This brings a mix of rain and showers quite widely, and some very strong winds especially for south and south-western coasts.
The Cambridge University’s sports grounds looked brown and parched last year after the ground dried up
This summer Cambridge University’s sports grounds look healthy after some parts of the country received almost double their usual July rainfall
Pictures from last August show the drought conditions Ely City football club in Cambridgeshire following a month of record low rainfall
A photo from thisb year show what is now a luscious green football pitch at Ely City in Cambridgeshire after the wet summer
Football and rugby pitches in Ely, Cambridgeshire, became dry and parched in blazing temperatures during the heatwave last year but this August they look dramatically different, with green grass replacing the dirt.
The course at Newmarket golf club in Suffolk, which looked brown and drab last August, also boasts a green lawn – after England’s rainfall in July this year was up around 75 per cent on average.
The cricket pitch at Grantchester near Cambridge and the Cambridge University’s sports grounds looked brown and parched last year after the ground dried up in the sun, but this summer they look healthy after some parts of the country received almost double their usual July rainfall.
Following July’s summer washout there’s little sign of August being much of an improvement, with the Met Office warning that the prospects for any ‘prolonged dry and hot spells’ next month are currently unlikely.
The forecaster issued a yellow weather warning[2] today for thunderstorms across the Midlands and Wales on Wednesday morning, with wind forecast along the southern coast from 4am.
They warned of lightning strikes to buildings and structures during the storms, which may spark travel chaos to rail passengers and motorists, as well as ‘short term’ power losses.
Gusts of wind reaching 60mph could spark huge travel disruption as British families look to enjoy their summer holidays – with warnings that road, rail, air and ferry transport could all be affected. Beach-goers are also told to expect large waves along the coast.
Ely Rugby club was turned into a dust bowl last year after baking hot summer temperatures
This pitch is now looking healthy and revitalised after last month’s heavy downpours
Sports pitches were arid and parched in last summer’s blazing temperatures. Pictured: Cambridge University’s sports grounds
This August they look dramatically different, with green grass replacing the dirt. Pictured: Cambridge University’s sports grounds
Aerial images show the arid soil at the Newnham College Cambridge (left) compared with healthy looking lawns one year later (right)
Churchill College in Cambridge pictured last summer amid a severe draught in the UK
Pictures from this August now show green fields outside the College
The Met Office said: ‘Unseasonably windy conditions, accompanied by showers or longer spells of rain, will affect southern England and Wales during Wednesday.’
It added that the highest winds will affect the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall and will spread into other English Channel coastal areas during the morning.
Up to 55-60 winds mph are expected to hit the ‘most exposed spots’ in the far south and southwest of England, while other parts of the coast will see speeds of between 45-50 mph. Winds are expected to slowly ease later in the afternoon.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Steve Ramsdale, said: ‘On Wednesday there is a chance of impacts both from rainfall and strong winds. Persistent rain feeding into eastern part of northern England in particular, sees the risk of some surface water flooding.
‘There is also the potential for some heavy and thundery showers, which could be slow moving in places with a risk of hail, across central and southern areas. The stronger winds however are more limited to the south coast.
‘With the school holidays underway and many families planning outdoor activities the unseasonably strong winds could also have an impact.
Last year, Cambridge Rugby Club’s lawns looked burned and in need of a good watering
This year, Cambridge Rugby Club’s lawns look vibrant thanks to an unusually wet summer
Newmarket Golf club in Suffolk was turned into a scorched wasteland after temepratures last summer reached record highs
This year, the course has returned to its luscious self after a month of heavy donwpours
‘While many coastal areas will see breezy conditions at times through the week, some strong or even gale force winds are possible along coastal areas of the south and south-west through Wednesday in particular.’
He said there were no signs of any warmer or more settled weather throughout the rest of August, with the unsettled regime looking most likely to continue to dominate at least for the first half of the month.
He said the greatest chance of seeing any brief, drier and slightly warmer interludes, would most likely be later in August.
References
- ^ Dan Woodland (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ issued a yellow weather warning (www.dailymail.co.uk)