England and Wales record driest July in almost two centuries

England and Wales are on track to record their driest July in nearly two centuries, according to the UK's Met Office. The month has been characterized by an extreme combination of prolonged heatwaves, abundant sunshine, and a severe lack of rainfall.

In some English counties, the total rainfall for July has been less than one millimeter. The Met Office stated that with over half of England officially declared to be in drought, the month has presented an unusual meteorological scenario.

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As more than half of England and all of Wales have been officially declared to be in drought, this month has brought an extreme combination of extreme heat, above-average sunshine, and in some areas, a near-complete absence of rainfall.

Preliminary statistics, covering data up to July 30, indicate that both England and Wales are heading towards the driest July since records began approximately 190 years ago. This surpasses previous records, such as the dry spell in 1911.

For England, preliminary figures show only 5.6 mm of rainfall in July, significantly lower than the previous record of 13.4 mm in 1911. Wales recorded 7.9 mm, also falling short of its 1911 record of 22.6 mm. These figures highlight the severity of the ongoing drought conditions affecting the regions.

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Preliminary statistics from the Met Office, covering the period up to and including July 30, show that both England and Wales are heading towards the driest July in the last 190 years.