UK Soil Moisture Deficits to Persist for Six Months — SkimNews
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- Soil moisture deficit (SMD) measures how many millimetres of rain are needed to return soil to field capacity, with southern England potentially reaching deficits of 150mm or more in a dry year.
- The UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology reports water storage deficits across much of England and Wales, warning the driest parts of southern England would need 'unusually high rainfall' to recover by month's end.
- The six-month forecast projects soil moisture deficits will persist across England and Wales, even as soils in western Scotland stay a little wetter than average for the time of year.
- Soil type dramatically affects readings — sandy soil at 20% water content may be at field capacity, while heavy clay soil at the same reading may already be at the permanent wilting point.
- Extreme drought produces 'surge years,' when drying clay soils shift and crack open, damaging buildings and driving a rise in subsidence claims.
Why it matters: Persistently low soil moisture across England and Wales sets up tougher growing conditions for farmers and an eventual spike in subsidence claims when clay soils crack — both downstream fallout from the six-month dry trend the Centre flags.
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