Articles | Volume 29, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1295-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-1295-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
11 Mar 2025
Research article |
| 11 Mar 2025
| 11 Mar 2025
Distribution, trends, and drivers of flash droughts in the United Kingdom
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), Wallingford, United Kingdom
Jamie Hannaford
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), Wallingford, United Kingdom
Irish Climate Analysis and Research UnitS (ICARUS), Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland
Maliko Tanguy
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), Wallingford, United Kingdom
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), Reading, United Kingdom
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Short summary
The study provides a detailed characterisation of flash drought in the UK for 1969–2021. The spatio-temporal distribution and trends of flash droughts are highly variable, with important regional and seasonal contrasts. In the UK, flash drought development responds primarily to precipitation variability, while the atmospheric evaporative demand plays a secondary role. We also found that the North Atlantic Oscillation is the main circulation pattern controlling flash drought development.
The study provides a detailed characterisation of flash drought in the UK for 1969–2021. The...
