There are several news articles this week forecasting a potential severe drought for next year, Writes Stewart Downs.
Unless...
Unless we have a wet autumn and winter.
The long-range forecast is for a dryer than average autumn and winter. Early indications appear to support this.
See the photos of boats moored on the Thames in Abingdon November 2024 in comparison to November 2025 (today)!
If the weather remains dry the outlook for boating on the inland waterways looks very poor.
The canals will be especially impacted as most of the locks leak so badly and therefore cannot stop the water running out to sea.
Lack of maintenance
The lack of preventive maintenance and the loss of the full-time lock keepers and lengthsmen will really hit home next year.
Only time will tell.