BREAKING: Environment Agency declares UK drought as millions hit with hosepipe bans
The Environment Agency - which aims to help protect the UK environment - has warned England faces widespread drought conditions by September.
As it stands, there are five additional regions that could be declared drought zones, it says.
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The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
UK could see fourth heatwave of summer before torrential downpours and thunderstorms
Parts of the UK could see yet another heatwave by the end of this week, according to forecasters. Britons are also being warned of thunderstorms in places throughout the week, with the potential for 'torrential downfalls' over the weekend and possible weather warnings to be issued. Rain might be welcome for some, coming amid warnings from the Environment Agency that up to five more regions could be in a drought by September, with more hosepipe bans on the way. Much of the UK experienced a brief reprieve from the hot weather on Tuesday as the third heatwave of the summer started to come to an end. Temperatures exceeded 30C in several parts of the country and broke multiple records over the weekend. But just as Britons are recovering from the weekend's intense heat, the Met Office has revealed they should start bracing themselves for yet another potential heatwave. Meteorologist Tom Morgan told The Independent that Tuesday has been a 'much cooler and showery day', with much of the country seeing showers and rainy spells. He predicted a 'changeable' week ahead as well, but said that temperatures will 'rebound' from Tuesday to above average once again. On the question of a fourth heatwave, he said: 'From a technical point of view, there is the potential for some places to reach heatwave status. 'But it's not going to be anything like the most recent heatwave, which saw temperatures reach the high 20s or low 30s. 'Currently, we're expecting temperatures of 29C in south east England on Thursday and Friday, then it might well be 28C or similar on Saturday. 'Most likely, it's a few individual weather stations that reach the criteria for a heatwave... but that won't be for everyone, it will be a small minority of places where there is a technical heatwave.' The Met Office defines a heatwave as 'an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year, which may be accompanied by high humidity'. In the UK, hot weather can only be classified as a heatwave if it meets a daily maximum temperature consistently for three days in a row, with the threshold varying across different parts of the UK between 25C and 28C. The peak of the last heatwave hit on Saturday, when Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales all recorded their warmest day of the year so far – with Scotland and Northern Ireland reaching temperatures they have not hit in years. Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire hit 30.8C while Achnagart in the Scottish Highlands reached 30.4C, Cardiff's Bute Park 30.2C and Castlederg in Co Tyrone 27.1C. A host of warnings were issued over dangers arising out of the hot temperatures. These included amber and yellow heat health alerts in place across England – warning of the potential for a rise in deaths – while fire chiefs urged people to stay safe over the increased risk of wildfires, with blazes breaking out in London, Surrey, and Perth in Scotland. But Mr Morgan offered reassurance that there is 'nothing like that on the way'. He said that 'there will be essentially fairly typical warm summer weather this week, as opposed to the recent weather where we've seen it hot and impactful', citing the uncomfortable sleeping conditions many have been complaining of. The summer's third heatwave saw a hosepipe ban come into force in Yorkshire, with similar restrictions issued for Kent and Sussex from 18 July following one of the UK's driest springs on record. Currently, three areas of the UK – Cumbria and Lancashire, Yorkshire and Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire – are in drought. And millions more people could face these conditions across the Midlands and central southern regions this year, under the Environment Agency's reasonable worst cast scenario. However, Mr Morgan said the UK is set for a wetter week this week. Many Britons should brace for thunderstorms, he warned, with weather warnings potentially being issued in the coming days. The meteorologist explained that much of the UK should see 'dry, warmer weather' on Wednesday, before the end of the week becomes more showery. There is currently a fairly 'isolated' thunderstorm warning in place for Northern Ireland, a region that will again see a risk of thunderstorms on Thursday, he said. Then, central and southern England as well as Wales are all set for thunderstorms and 'really torrential downfalls' into the weekend. He said: 'There will be further thunderstorms in the week ahead and indeed the weekend. It is a warm, humid picture into the weekend... 'Anyone with outdoor plans should keep an eye on the forecast for the week ahead. 'There is the potential for weather warnings in the lead up to the weekend. 'It's looking much wetter, and potentially very wet in places, compared to the weekend just gone.'
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
UK set for fourth intense heatwave as scorching 32C highs close out July
If you're happy the recent heatwaves are at an end, there's bad news - even more scorching temperatures look likely to be baking Britain before the end of the month A fourth heatwave of the summer will arrive before the end of the month as Brits desperate for an end to the high temperatures are told to brace for even more intense heat. The UK is currently recuperating from its third heatwave of the year, with several parts of the country experiencing conditions over 32C since Friday and Monday. Despite temperatures rising over 30C again on Monday, rain is now falling to help cool some areas down with a welcome wind also arriving this week. However, it could soon change again as Met Office weather maps reveal more sweltering highs are on the cards this month. There will be a bit of a wait until things really heat up again, but by Tuesday July 29 we will be switching on the fans again with the south east expecting the mercury to hit 31C. Other areas, such as the west Midland and the north west, will see highs of 30. It is due to be even warmer on Wednesday July 30 with 32C forecast. Things will begin to get really hot again from next weekend, with much of the south seeing 28C from the Sunday. Before that, rain is scheduled across most parts of Britain, a relief for millions as water companies roll out hosepipe bans as water supplies dwindle following one of the driest springs on record. It comes as the Environment Agency, which aims to help protect the UK environment, has warned England faces widespread drought conditions by September. The East and West Midlands have become the latest areas of England to fall into drought as the country struggles with the driest start to the year since 1976. The declaration of drought status for the East and West Midlands means the region joins Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire, and Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, which are already in drought. As it stands, there are four UK regions considered drought zones, and there could be an additional four within a matter of months, it says. The National Drought Group is set to meet later today to discuss the worsening situation. Rain and thunderstorms has today hit some regions, including the Northwest of England, this afternoon as a band of low pressure creeps in from the west. This will also lead to gusts of up to 50mph along the coasts of south Wales and Somerset and Devon. It will be quite the contrast to recent scorchers and the Met Office website reads: "A band of rain will move east through the day, followed by heavy scattered showers in the northwest. Windy for many, particularly across the south and west. Feeling fresh." The sequence begins an unsettled ending to July. The Met Office's long-range forecast, concerning the period up to Monday July 28, says it will be "wet and, in places, windy". It adds: "Unsettled, wet and in places windy weather is likely this coming weekend, followed by something a bit more mixed. Any more settled spells could persist for a few days at a time and are likely to be accompanied by plenty of sunshine, but interspersed with these will be cloudier, more unsettled intervals which will bring some showers or longer spells of persistent rainfall." Amber and yellow heat health alerts which have been in place across England – warning of the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions – are due to lift at 9am today. Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said: 'The heatwave is starting to come to an end as low pressure starts to move in from the Atlantic. "We say goodbye to high pressure as this area of low pressure takes over, bringing bands of heavy rain, some thundery downpours, but also bringing in some fresher conditions across many parts.'
BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
Hosepipe bans: Has your area been banned from using hosepipes?
Hosepipe bans have been introduced across England, affecting millions of bans have been brought in by a number of water companies, after England experienced its second driest spring on record according to BBC has also been England's warmest June on latest hosepipe ban comes from a water company called Thames Water, and is said to effect 1.1 million customers in the south of England. Meanwhile, more English regions have announced they are experiencing a drought after the National Drought Group met on East and West Midlands have officially entered drought, joining the north west of England and Yorkshire who have already declared they are experiencing have always happened, but climate change and our growing use of water are raising the risks of water shortages, the Environment Agency what is a drought? And what is a hosepipe ban? Find out here. What is a drought? A drought is when there is a longer than expected period of dry weather, leading to a shortage of the UK, water is collected in places called help supply clean, fresh water to homes and businesses around the country throughout the if there is a long time with little to no rain, then reservoirs may not have enough water to go can read more about droughts and what they mean here. Why do water companies ban the use of hosepipes? When water supplies are very low, water companies may restrict how much water their customers can way to restrict water is to ban the non-essential use of are often used in homes to:water plantsclean cars and bikes fill up ponds or paddling of using garden hosepipes, customers are encouraged to use watering cans to water plants or buckets of water to wash cars and hope is these methods will use up less water than a hosepipe water companies may fine customers for using hosepipes during a ban. Which water companies have announced hosepipe bans? On Monday Thames Water announced a hosepipe ban, affecting 1.1 million hosepipe ban would start on 22 July in Swindon, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and parts of Water introduced the first hosepipe ban of the year, affecting 5 million customers on ban covers much of Yorkshire, parts of north Lincolnshire and parts of South East Water customers are preparing for a ban on 18 July affecting people in Kent and Sussex. What is happening in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland? As of Tuesday, there are no official droughts reported in Northern Ireland or Mid and South Ceredigion in west Wales say there is a risk of "developing drought".In Scotland, droughts are not declared. Instead, they monitor water levels. Parts of eastern Scotland have been affected by "moderate" water scarcity, meaning water levels are lower than usual.
