No respite from drought as cool April ends with more heavy downpours

West Yorkshire could experience heavy rain and strong gusts today, the Met Office said.

Met Officer forecaster Helen Chivers said: “We do still have a lot of unsettled weather to come between now and the end of the month, with sunshine and showers today and tomorrow. You could get some very heavy downpours in these showers.

“As we go through the weekend there’s the potential for more heavy rain on Saturday night and Sunday morning.”

Temperatures will probably get up to average, but it will still feel cool in the wind, she added.

The Met Office said Yorkshire had already had 1.5 times the average rainfall in April – with some places were approaching twice the normal amount – but it was still some way off setting a new record.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: “It will take a fair while to get aquifers and reservoirs back up to a good level.

“We are still in drought.”

Meanwhile strong winds bought down scaffolding and seriously damaged at least four cars in Portsmouth. Police said no-one was injured when it fell at the Royal Beach Hotel on Southsea seafront.