England Faces Widespread Drought Crisis Following Record-Breaking Dry Spell
Half of England is officially in drought after record-low rainfall and extreme heat. Environment Agency warns of impacts on water, wildlife, and farming.
POLICY WIRE — London, United Kingdom — Government officials have officially declared a severe drought across significant portions of southern England, including Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, East Sussex, and West Sussex.
The Environment Agency reports that seven distinct regions are now under drought status. This follows a period of exceptionally high temperatures and record-low rainfall that has strained the nation’s water supplies, agricultural sector, and local wildlife.
Data indicates that 71.3% of England is currently experiencing drought conditions. This crisis follows the driest July since national records began in 1836, during which some areas received only 7% of their typical long-term average rainfall.
The situation has been described as a flash drought, intensifying rapidly after a period that began with winter flooding. Recent weeks have seen minimal precipitation, with central, east, and south-east England recording less than 5mm of rain as of September 22.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
