Almost three-quarters of England now in drought, UK government says
LONDON — Almost three-quarters of England is now in drought, the British government said on Monday, highlighting the worsening impact of prolonged dry weather on agriculture, public water supplies and wildlife. Most of the country, 71.3 percent, is now experiencing a flash drought caused by a combination of very low rainfall and higher temperatures. That has risen since late July, when almost…
On Monday, the UK government announced that nearly three-quarters of England is currently experiencing drought, underscoring the severe consequences of an extended period of dry weather. The majority of the nation, 71.3 percent, is grappling with a flash drought resulting from a combination of minimal rainfall and elevated temperatures.
This figure has climbed since late July, when around half of England was first declared in drought. As of the latest update, 45 million individuals reside in drought-affected regions, and 27 million are subject to water-use restrictions.
This summer has been marked by Britain's fifth heatwave, with England and Wales preliminarily recording their driest July in 190 years. Southeast England has received a mere 1 percent of its typical average rainfall. Water Minister Emma Hardy expressed concern about the challenging circumstances, stating that the government is intensifying its support.
This includes facilitating farmers' efforts to construct on-site irrigation reservoirs. Despite these measures, rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater levels continue to decline, exacerbating the ongoing hot and dry conditions.
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- Almost three-quarters of England now in drought, UK government says koreatimes.co.kr
