England and Wales have provisionally recorded their driest July since records began in 1910, according to the UK's national weather service. The Met Office has stated that this July is the driest in a series stretching back to 1836.
The provisional data indicates that the United Kingdom as a whole experienced its eighth driest July on record. The Met Office noted that this dry spell is part of a broader pattern, with the period from January to June 2022 being the driest first half of the year since 1976.
The ongoing dry conditions have led to drought declarations in several regions of England. The Environment Agency, along with other bodies, has moved eight areas of England to drought status, including Devon, Cornwall, and Dorset in the southwest, and East Anglia and Yorkshire in the east. These regions are currently experiencing or are at risk of water scarcity.
Restrictions on water use, such as hosepipe bans, have been implemented by several water companies across the country to conserve supplies. The lack of significant rainfall has exacerbated the dry conditions, impacting agricultural areas and contributing to concerns about water resources.