Seriously low water levels on Derwentwater is already impacting a company that runs tourist cruises on the popular lake.
A spokesperson for the Keswick Launch said that the water levels were “unbelievably low” as there had been no significant rainfall in the area since January.
Such is the lake’s lack of water that boats are unable to dock and passengers alight at Lodore at the Borrowdale end of Derwentwater.
“It’s a popular stop where passengers can alight and get a cup of coffee,” said the spokesperson. “That is the down side. People are saying that they cannot get off for a brew. Some people like to break their journey and get off and then back on the boat a little later.
“We need some really heavy rain to change anything but only light rain is forecast. You get heavy rain but then you get no customers. It’s a real Catch-22 situation. It could get a lot worse but I hope not.”
The low level of water has also revealed the mayoral plaques near Friar’s Crag. They have been placed there by local council chairman since 1887 showing the various record low levels of water in the lake.
The Keswick Reminder’s weather watcher Lorna G H Holden said on Wednesday that the Keswick area had only received 25mm of rain during March so far – the average for the month is 128mm.
“I’ve been keeping rainfall records since 2019 and it’s the driest March I’ve witnessed here,” she said.
“I believe that it is likely to be one of the driest, if not the driest March on record, but that won’t be confirmed until next week.
“We are expecting rain overnight into Friday, followed for a time by showers and then further rain on Saturday but it will still end up being a very dry March.”
The Met Office has forecast the dry spell to continue through next week with temperatures reaching up to 19C.
