Almost three-quarters of England is now experiencing drought, the British government said Monday, warning that prolonged hot and dry conditions are putting increasing pressure on agriculture, public water supplies and wildlife.
Around 71.3% of England is currently affected by a flash drought caused by a combination of exceptionally low rainfall and above-average temperatures. The figure has risen sharply since late July, when nearly half of the country was officially classified as being in drought.
The latest government assessment found that approximately 45 million people are living in areas affected by drought, while around 27 million people are subject to restrictions on water use.
The United Kingdom is currently experiencing its fifth heatwave of the year, while England and Wales have provisionally recorded their driest July in 190 years. Southeast England received just 1% of its average expected rainfall during the month.
“We know how challenging this summer has been,” Water Minister Emma Hardy said, adding that the government was increasing its support, including efforts to make it easier for farmers to build irrigation reservoirs on their land.
Water Levels and Wildfire Risk Decline
The government said river flows, reservoir levels and groundwater supplies are continuing to fall, while persistent hot and dry conditions are increasing the risk of wildfires across the country.
The drought is also affecting ecosystems and wildlife, with breeding birds, amphibians and freshwater fish stocks among the species facing growing pressure from the extreme conditions.
The prolonged heat is also having consequences for public health. UK health authorities estimated last month that 2,877 people in Britain had died from heat-related causes so far this year.
Authorities are continuing to monitor water supplies and environmental conditions as the hot, dry weather persists, with concerns growing over the potential for further deterioration if significant rainfall does not arrive.
