Drought declared in ‘almost three-quarters’ of England, government says

Some 71.3 per cent of England is in drought, the UK government said on Monday, after the nation experienced its driest July on record, with a fifth heatwave and scant rain forecast for the week ahead.

Parks and fields that are usually green at this point in the year were parched and yellow, according to Agence France-Presse photos, as river levels dwindled and farmers battling low crop yields warned of possible food shortages.

“Almost three-quarters of England is now in drought as conditions worsen following a dry start to August,” the environment department said, as parts of the central Midlands and northeast England joined other areas of the country experiencing prolonged dry weather.

“All regions of the country are experiencing pressure on their water resources,” the department said, with “nowhere” in the UK having a “normal” status.

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said most of England is experiencing a “flash drought”, which develops quickly and is the result of very low rainfall and high temperatures.

It is the third drought Britain – usually known for its unpredictable wet weather – has experienced in five years. More than 50 per cent of England was declared to be in drought at the end of July.