Weatherwatch: soil moisture deficit – how dry are the UK’s thirsty soils?

September 11, 2026 · 5:00 am 1 sources

Image: The Guardian

Coverage

Wires & papers of record

• Weatherwatch: soil moisture deficit – how dry are the UK’s thirsty soils?
  The Guardian · September 11, 2026 05:00
  SMD is the moisture the soil must make up until it is at capacity, with very dry conditions over most of England and Wales When the ground is thoroughly wet, after excess rainwater has run off it is said to be at field capacity. Meteorologists describe drought in terms of soil moisture deficit…