Drought Declared Across Wales and Parts of England Amid Summer Heatwaves

Drought has been declared across the whole of Wales, with July on course to be the driest month in the country since records began nearly 190 years ago. Natural Resources Wales reported that the region received only eight percent of its long-term average rainfall for the month. Many rivers are running exceptionally low, which has caused distress to fish and raised concerns regarding crop growth and drinking water for livestock.

Similar drought conditions have been declared across many areas of England. The Environment Agency warned that swathes of the country are officially in drought due to very low rainfall. This coincides with a fourth heatwave this summer, characterized by a north south split where southern regions experienced high temperatures while Scotland saw clouds and rain. Temperatures peaked at 35.2C in Writtle, Essex, and reached 34C in London.

The extreme weather led to amber heat health alerts for London and the east and south east of England. The London Fire Brigade attended over 1,300 incidents, including grass fires, during a recent peak. Nationally, hosepipe bans have been implemented for 23 million customers. One report attributed these extreme weather patterns to human caused climate change.