Village sees 50 days without rain during summer heatwave

Wisley, a village in Surrey, England, has experienced an exceptional dry spell, marking 50 consecutive days without rainfall this summer. This period significantly exceeds the 36 dry days recorded during the notable heatwave of 1976, making the current situation a landmark event.

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As the extremely dry spell continues across much of England and Wales, a small village in Surrey has notched up 50 consecutive days without rain this summer.

The prolonged lack of rain follows the driest July on record for England and Wales, with Met Office data showing minimal rainfall across much of the UK. England recorded only 6.5mm of rainfall, and Wales 9.3mm, both substantially below previous records. This scarcity is attributed to a persistent high-pressure system dominating the weather since late spring, which prevents the formation of rain clouds.

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It comes after the driest July for England and Wales since Met Office records began 190 years ago

While southern areas of England and Wales have been most affected by the dry conditions, some regions have experienced scattered showers, meaning places like Wisley have missed out entirely. In contrast, Scotland and Northern Ireland have seen occasional rain as they lie on the periphery of these high-pressure systems.

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High pressure has dominated the weather since late-spring, caused by a large zone of air descending through the atmosphere. This largely acts to prevent rain clouds building up.

The same weather patterns that have caused the drought have also brought prolonged sunshine and heat. Despite a temporary return to more typical August conditions, forecasts predict further heat surges in the coming week. Consequently, the UK Health Security Agency has issued yellow heat health alerts for most of England, warning of potential impacts on health and social care services, increased risks for vulnerable individuals, and a rise in water-related incidents.

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The same high pressure systems that have kept rain away have also brought sunny skies and surges of prolonged heat.