Drought declared in almost three-quarters of England

On Monday, the UK government revealed that 71.3% of England is currently facing drought conditions, following the driest July ever recorded in both England and Wales, according to the Met Office. There's a fifth heatwave on the way, along with little to no rainfall expected next week. Fields and parks that are usually vibrant have become dry and brown, leading to worries among farmers about possible food shortages due to falling river levels. The environment department stated that nearly three-quarters of England is affected as drought conditions intensify after a dry beginning to August, particularly in the central Midlands and northeast. No UK region has a normal water status, with Defra warning of a swiftly emerging 'flash drought.' This is Britain’s third drought in five years, with over half of England under drought by the end of July.