Seven areas of England officially in drought, Environment Agency says

Seven regions across England are now officially experiencing drought conditions, a consequence of a notably hot and dry summer. The Environment Agency confirmed the declaration, highlighting the severe lack of precipitation, particularly in July when the country received only 7% of its expected rainfall. Southern England fared even worse, recording a mere 1% of its typical July rainfall.

The affected areas include East Anglia; Hertfordshire and the entirety of London; the Thames Valley; Hampshire and the Isle of Wight; Devon and Cornwall; the West Midlands; and Wessex, which encompasses Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and south Gloucestershire.

Helen Wakeham, director of water at the Environment Agency and chair of the National Drought Group, stated, "The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it." This declaration underscores the critical water scarcity challenges facing these parts of England.

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The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it.