Drought Grips Almost Three-Quarters of England And More Heat Is Coming
England is facing a severe 'flash drought' with over 70% of the country affected following a record-dry July and ongoing heatwaves. The government has implemented water restrictions as scientists link these extreme weather events to climate change.
Why it matters
The frequency of droughts in the UK challenges traditional perceptions of the country's climate and threatens agricultural yields and water security.
Some 71.3 per cent of England is in drought, the UK government said 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 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…
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