Drought declared in parts of England as fourth heatwave grips country

A drought has been declared in parts of England following the country’s fourth heatwave of the summer, the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said, according to TASS.

Drought has been declared in Devon, Dorset, the West Midlands, Cornwall, Somerset, Wiltshire, Hertfordshire, Hampshire, East Anglia, the Thames Valley, London, the Isle of Wight and South Gloucestershire.

“Large parts of central, eastern and southern England are now experiencing flash drought, a phenomenon that develops rapidly as a result of exceptionally low rainfall and high temperatures. River levels are falling, farmers are being forced to harvest crops earlier than usual, the risk of wildfires is increasing, and millions of people are living under water-use restrictions,” the ministry said in a statement.