Drought deepens as UK braces for fifth heatwave

England and Wales are officially in drought, facing a continued dry spell with little rain in sight. The Environment Agency (EA) indicates that more areas of England may soon be declared in drought status, adding to the existing conditions where half of England and all of Wales are already affected. River levels have plummeted, with some areas receiving less than 1mm of rain for seven consecutive weeks, while reservoir levels are critically low across England.

The National Farmers Union has issued a stark warning, suggesting that the persistent dry weather could result in food shortages. This comes as parts of the country, like Wisley in Surrey, have experienced over 50 days without any rainfall. While northwest Scotland saw significant rainfall recently, the majority of the UK is expected to experience a brief respite from the heat early in the week before temperatures surge again.

As the UK heads into what could be its fifth heatwave, temperatures are forecast to climb significantly. By Thursday, southeastern England could see highs of 36C (97F), with central and eastern England reaching up to 35C. This would mark a new record, potentially the fourth consecutive month where temperatures have hit 35C in the UK. Many regions will surpass their heatwave thresholds, experiencing uncomfortable overnight temperatures with minimums potentially staying above 16-18C, and even a possibility of 'tropical nights' in the southeast where temperatures remain above 20C all night.