A couple of good photos of Wales in the '76 drought. From today's Western Mail



The Taff at Blackweir, Cardiff 1976


THIS SUMMER is today being tipped by bookmakers to be Wales and the UK’s hottest on record – trouncing the drought year of 1976.

Irish bookmakers Paddy Power has slashed the odds on 2011 going down in history as the hottest summer in the UK to just 3/1, on the back of meteorologist warnings that a severe drought is on its way.

Despite recent showers, earlier this week the Environment Agency stressed that river levels are “significantly low” and Welsh Water now warns that reservoir levels are already lower than in 1976.

A Paddy Power spokesman said: “1976 currently holds the record for the hottest summer in the UK since records began but 2011 could blow that figure out of the water if forecasters are to be believed.

“The warnings come following reports that last month was the warmest April in over 350 years.”

Paddy Power is also giving odds of just 2/7 for 2011 to record a hotter temperature than 1976.

1976 saw an unprecedented heatwave that lasted from June 22 to July 16, a period of 25 consecutive days on each of which the temperature climbed to 27°C or more.

The temperature reached 32°C on every one of the 15 successive days from June 23 to July 7 inclusive.

A spokesman for Welsh Water said: “We’ve had the driest March and April for many years and have not seen the usual top-up of spring rainfall – despite the recent showers.

“We received less than 40% of average rainfall for April and the period from October last year to date, has been the driest since 1976, with very low flows of water into our reservoirs.

“Inflows to our reservoirs are 20% lower than in 1976.”

The spokesman said customers can be assured that it is carrying out a great deal of work to manage water resources to ensure supplies remain healthy for the summer and generally the reservoir levels are holding up well.



Len Jones, Talybont reservoir, summer '76

May has produced a number of heavy rain showers so far and BBC meteorologist, Derek Brockway said more much-needed rain is likely to arrive.

“Rainfall was well below average in March and April,” he said. “Across Wales only 61mm fell, (2.5 inches).

“The average is 205mm (eight inches), making it the third driest on record and even drier than the same two months in 1976. By the end of April, river flows in several rivers including the Wye and Tawe were similar to, or even below, those seen during the 1976 drought.

“It is likely to be an average summer but there are many examples of dry and warm March and Aprils followed by disappointing summers.

“April 2007 was one of the driest Aprils on record in Wales but the month was followed by one the wettest summers on record.

“The forecast for Europe from America suggests above-average rainfall for Wales in August, with average temperatures throughout June, July and August.”

Meanwhile Paddy Power said the odds on summer temperatures soaring to over 37°C in London this summer are 11/4. The bookmaker is also offering odds of 2/1 on this summer’s temperatures reaching 33.01 to 35°C; 9/2 on 35.01 to 37ºC and 11/4 on the mercury rising more than 37°C.

The UK’s record high of 101.3F (38.5°C) was recorded at Brogdale, Faversham, in Kent, on August 10, 2003. In August 1990, Hawarden Bridge in North East Wales had a high of 35.2° C, which is the second highest temperature ever recorded.

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Musha rig um du rum da

Dont worry, the rains will come as soon as the schools break up and everyone is off on their holidays

all the best Nick

Whatever happens we all cope with droughts. As fishermen we adapt to changing conditions. As long as there is water somewhere with trout in we will carry on fishing.As a last resort there is always sea fishing.

BK

Good news if your after a sun for tan,not so good for fishing

Neil

I was only 9 in 76,but i remember it was hot.Great fun

I was actually touring in Wales in 1976, and can remember it well.
Bluith Wells show was on, and the reservoirs were near empty, amazing stuff.
We stayed in a small B&B and the only way she could get hot water was from her back boiler, so each morning we came down to a roaring fire in the grate.
Boy it was a hot one!!!
S.

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"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.

The summer before last was predicted to be a belter by forecasters and wasn't so and iirc last summer had some forecasters predicting it was also going to be a belter (maybe not the hottest on record - but still it wasn't even a 'hot' summer). In my opinion it would be lovely to have a scorching summer. I'm just saying don't hold your breath on what forecasters predict. There was a thread not long ago about somebody else on this forum who thinks the weather forecasters get it wrong more than right!

If the MET office has this one right, which is debatable. A lot of the smaller waters around the country could be in serious trouble. We did not have the same number of fisheries back then. So for all our sakes, lets hope they have this year wrong & we get a nice wet summer with sunny intervals.