Rain may not mean drought end

DROUGHT conditions could continue into winter despite a good chance of a wetter-than-usual autumn and flood risks increasing, officials have said.

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The Met Office and the Environment Agency said the latest outlook for the rest of September, and October and November, shows a higher likelihood for wetter and windier conditions, compared to the 30-year average, but they warned this rain may still not be enough to reverse all the effects of this year's record-breaking dry and hot weather, which led several regions to declare drought status and introduce hosepipe bans over the summer.