Drought concerns transfer to Africa and to the US. by Everton Fox
After reports that southern parts of England are heading for a drought due to two consecutive dry winters, drought concerns are also hitting the headlines across the pond in the US and more seriously, across parts of east Africa.
The horn of Africa is currently in the grip of a severe drought. Most affected is southern Somalia. Several consecutive poor rainy seasons here have left many areas with an acute shortage of water. Crops have been destroyed and livestock have starved to death and thousands are in need of assistance.
The northern US state of North Dakota is also believed to be in danger of a severe drought within the next few decades, however, funding here has allowed US officials to already put contingency strategies in place to try to combat this threat.
Experts believe that the drought can be tackled by diverting the Missouri river into Canada in order to supply North Dakota with water. Under these plans, up to 120 cubic feet of water would be diverted into the state per second.
However, this large-scale plan has not been warmly welcomed by all. Taking water from one place will undeniably affect another place, and many have seen this as just a way of moving the problem elsewhere. The plan will also involve the joining of two water basins, which have been separated for over 10,000 years.
Back here in the UK it is snow which is in the forecast for this coming week. Cold northerly winds will bring heavy snow showers for some parts on Tuesday and Wednesday, so keep in touch with the forecast for the latest details on your area over the next few days.
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