Seven English regions declared in drought after record-dry July
The Environment Agency has officially listed seven areas of England as being in drought following an exceptionally dry summer, with rainfall in July at just 7% of normal and only 1% in the south.
Following an unusually hot and arid summer, the Environment Agency has formally identified seven English regions as experiencing drought conditions. The areas include East Anglia; Hertfordshire and the entirety of London; the Thames Valley; Hampshire together with the Isle of Wight; Devon and Cornwall; the West Midlands; and Wessex, which comprises Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and south Gloucestershire. July recorded only 7% of the average rainfall nationwide and a mere 1% across southern England.
Helen Wakeham, director of water for the Environment Agency and chair of the National Drought Group, warned that current water consumption is exceeding the rate at which natural sources can refill. The agency’s statement signals heightened strain on water resources and may lead to stricter usage measures in the listed zones.
Why it matters
Drought alerts signal potential water shortages and may trigger usage restrictions for millions of residents.
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