Rainfall in July was almost twice as much as average across the south east.
The Environment Agency has published its latest Water Situation Report, which shows water levels to be back to normal for the time of year across most of the region.
Across Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight the average rainfall for July was 78.9mm, or 165 per cent of the long term average rainfall expected for July. In East Sussex, several areas received more than 200 per cent of the average rainfall expected for July. Over one 24 hour period (6/7 July), one rain gauge in St Leonards recorded 115.9mm of rain. This resulted in some flash flooding in the Hollington area of Hastings.
Rainfall in April, May and June was low and water levels in rivers, lakes, ponds and streams were reaching worryingly low levels. The Environment Agency received several reports of fish in distress across the region after a period of hot, dry weather in June. Heavy rainfall in July has restored the balance and now river flows, reservoir levels and groundwater are all within healthy ranges.
Simon Pearson, Strategic Environmental Planning Manager for the Environment Agency in Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight said: “At the end of June, our water situation was looking very worrying for wildlife. We had had three months of warm, dry weather and the environment was really starting to suffer.