Drought declared in 'almost three-quarters' of England, UK government says
The UK government has declared a drought across nearly 75% of England following record-breaking heatwaves and minimal rainfall. Authorities have implemented water usage restrictions as the country faces ongoing environmental pressure.
Why it matters
It illustrates the increasing frequency of extreme weather events and the strain climate change places on national infrastructure and agriculture.
Some 71.3% 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 AFP news agency 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,"…
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