Around half of England and the whole of Wales are officially in drought as provisional Met Office figures reveal both experienced the driest July on record this year.
England recorded just 5.6mm of rainfall to 30 July, just 8 per cent of the average for the month and less than half of the previous record low of 13.4mm recorded in 1911.
Across the whole of the UK it is the third driest July on record, with only 35 per cent of average rainfall making it the driest since 1868.
Met Office scientist Dr Emily Carlisle said: “The headline story for July is undoubtedly the rainfall. Across parts of England and Wales we’ve seen extraordinarily low totals, with some locations recording little or no meaningful rainfall for much of the month.
“Provisional figures suggest this could be one of the driest Julys in nearly two centuries of records, which is particularly notable when coupled with the exceptional heat experienced so far this summer.”
Up to 28 million people live in the areas affected by drought across central, eastern and southern England. Wales’ population of just over 3 million brings this to a total of 31 million people.
In England, the affected areas are East Anglia, Hertfordshire and the whole of London, Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, the West Midlands, and Wessex – covering Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
The Environment Agency has described the conditions as a “flash drought”, with July set to be England’s driest month on record.
It marks the second consecutive year in which parts of the UK have experienced drought, despite substantial winter rainfall that replenished reservoirs and groundwater.
Helen Wakeham, director of water at the Environment Agency and chair of the National Drought Group, said: “The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it.
“A second consecutive summer drought is an exceptionally serious situation and one that will have long-lasting impacts on our environment, wildlife and the economy.
“We want everyone to stay safe and hydrated during the hot weather but every drop we can save is a drop more for nature and agriculture.”
The announcement comes as parts of the UK experience a fourth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures continuing to reach into the thirties in some places.
Rainfall mapped: Wet winter makes way for dry spring
The prolonged high temperatures and dry conditions have severely impacted agriculture and water levels, and led to wildfires and hosepipe bans for millions of people.
May and June recorded record-breaking heatwaves, with a new June temperature record of 38C recently confirmed by the Met Office.
Almost a third of England – including Yorkshire, parts of the South East and North West – remains in “prolonged dry status”, with only the North East still seeing “normal” conditions for the time of year.
Water minister Emma Hardy said: “Our climate is changing, droughts are becoming increasingly common, and we need to be prepared for this new normal.
“We’re delivering long-term change in the water industry and driving record investments in infrastructure, including nine new reservoirs.
“We expect water companies to follow their drought plans, to go further and faster to reduce leaks, and to ensure supplies are not disrupted even in the driest of weather.”
Full list of areas affected by drought:
England
- East Anglia
- Hertfordshire and London
- Thames Valley
- Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
- Devon and Cornwall
- West Midlands
- Wessex
Wales (all regions)
- South East Wales
- South Wales Central
- South West Wales
- Mid Wales
- North East Wales
- North West Wales
