The last recorded rain in Hereford was just 0.8mm on June 30, according to the Environment Agency’s Broomy Hill rain gauge. At Ross-on-Wye, the river is currently at just 1cm, while the Old Bridge gauge in Hereford has shown no 0.00m for several days. Despite hopes for rain, the weather forecast remains largely dry, as Welsh Water refuses to rule out a possible hosepipe ban. The earliest likelihood of rain is on Monday and Tuesday, when cloudier weather could bring a 40 to 50 per cent chance of rainfall. Forecasters have warned sporadic showers will not significantly ease drought conditions without several days of consistent rainfall.