England Faces Prolonged Drought Amidst Record Dry Spell
Seventh Consecutive Week of Minimal Rainfall Exacerbates Water Shortages Across Half of England and All of Wales
Callum Smith
England has endured less than 10mm of rainfall for seven consecutive weeks.
July marked the sunniest month on record for the UK, further exacerbating already dry conditions. Last week, 78% of rivers in England registered below normal levels, with one-sixth exceptionally low.
Wisley in Surrey has endured 51 days without recording any rain. UK rainfall since the start of June stands at only 51% of the average summer rainfall.
South West Water has announced an official hosepipe ban, restricting nearly 26 million people. Anglian Water, serving over 5 million customers in the East of England, implemented a ban on Saturday, July 11.
Several wildfires have erupted across the UK in recent weeks.
The Environment Agency claims drought conditions could be declared in more parts of England next week, as a fifth heatwave is anticipated. This prolonged dry spell contrasts sharply with past extreme weather events.
Flash floods closed hospital emergency departments in east London in July 2021. A couple reportedly died in Liverpool in August 2023 after their car became trapped in a severe downpour.
The UK's cereal harvest is set to be the worst in 41 years. July 2026 was provisionally the driest on record, and parts of southern England reportedly experienced their driest month ever.
Elsewhere, wildfires in Spain and France have burned thousands of square kilometers and claimed 16 lives. Record-low water levels on the Danube River have exposed lost Nazi warships.
A survey found 81% of Britons felt unprepared for the worst impacts of the climate crisis. The number of people facing a food crisis has reportedly doubled in the past ten years, with foreign aid falling to a 10-year low.