Overview
- The Met Office confirmed on Monday that July was the driest on record for England and Wales, with provisional totals of about 6.5mm in England and 9.3mm in Wales.
- National drought status now covers the whole of Wales and roughly half of England, a footprint that officials say affects about 31 million people and has left many rivers and reservoirs well below normal levels.
- Nine water companies have imposed temporary hosepipe bans on more than 24 million customers and the National Fire Chiefs Council reports crews have responded to roughly 706 wildfires so far this year, stretching emergency resources.
- Farmers report very poor cereal and forage yields and some livestock keepers are using winter feed early, while conservation groups warn fires have devastated rare habitats that could take decades to recover.
- Forecasters say thunderstorms and heavy downpours are possible in parts of the UK in the next days but they are unlikely to deliver the sustained, widespread rain needed to erase accumulated deficits, increasing pressure for infrastructure and supply changes.