Half of England, in drought situation in the middle of the fourth heatwave

LondonThe drought situation is worsening in England. The Environment Agency officially declared a drought on Wednesday in seven regions covering approximately half of the territory, following months of exceptionally scarce rainfall and a succession of heatwaves that have driven up water consumption. The affected areas are London and Hertfordshire, East Anglia, the Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, West Midlands, and Wessex (which includes Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and south Gloucestershire).

The environmental agency warns that the country is experiencing an "exceptionally serious" situation, as it is the second consecutive summer with drought. According to the agency's water director, Helen Wakeham, water is being used "faster than nature can replenish it." The agency warns that the consequences could be long-lasting for ecosystems, wildlife, agriculture, and the economy.

The lack of rain is extraordinary. In July, only approximately 7% of the usual rainfall fell across England, while in some southern areas, only 1% of the expected rain was recorded. In parts of Devon, it has not rained for nearly fifty days. Reservoirs also show lower than usual levels.

The water crisis has forced several companies to impose restrictions. Thames Water, South East Water, Southern Water, Cambridge Water, Affinity Water, Anglian Water, and South West Water have decreed bans on using hoses to water gardens, fill paddling pools, or wash vehicles. Other operators, such as Severn Trent, Wessex Water, or Portsmouth Water, have not yet imposed bans but are asking customers to reduce their consumption.

The declaration of drought coincides with the fourth heatwave experienced by the United Kingdom this summer. The UK Health Security Agency maintains amber heat alerts for East Anglia, the East Midlands, the South East, and London between Tuesday and Thursday.

For this Wednesday, temperatures of up to 35°C are expected in the British capital, while much of southern England will exceed 30°C. The weather will remain sunny and very dry, before a slight drop in temperatures arrives on Thursday. Provisional data from the meteorological agency indicates that this July is three degrees warmer than the climatic average across the UK, an exceptional record that has accentuated soil desiccation.

Persistent heat has also increased the risk of wildfires. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) assures that the danger remains high and that emergency services are monitoring several large active fires. Firefighters in England and Wales have responded to 706 wildfires since the beginning of the year, of which 208 have broken out between July 16 and 28 alone. Officials from the service warn that climate change will make these episodes more frequent, extensive, and complex in the future. The United Kingdom looks with concern at what is happening in France and Spain and wonders if this will also be part of its future.