UK heatwave – live: Drought declared across large part of England

Yorkshire Water the latest company to declare hosepipe ban

Aftermath of Dagenham wildfires shows devastation

A drought has been declared across a large part of England as the driest summer in decades leaves millions facing water restrictions.

Parts of the southwest and swathes of southern, eastern and central England are to be moved into drought status, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says.

Yorkshire Water is the latest company to announce a hosepipe ban as another heatwave scorches the country after months of low rainfall.

The restrictions will come into effect from 26 August, the company’s director, Neil Dewis, said, citing fears over falling water stocks and a need for caution over “clean water supplies and long-term river health” as the basis for its decision.

On Thursday, experts warned that only “exceptional rainfall” in these worst affected parts of the country over the autumn and winter would ensure that water resources returned to normal before next year, sparking concern that restrictions could last into 2023.

“The autumn-winter period as a whole will be critical to dictating what the water resources position will be as we go into 2023,” said Jamie Hannaford, a hydrologist at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.

Key Points

• Drought declared in areas of England
• Yorkshire Water announces first hosepipe ban in 27 years
• UK climate effects already ‘worse than feared’ and are likely to deteriorate
• UK ‘completely unprepared’ to deal with ‘brutal, brutal’ wildfires, union warns
• Four-day extreme heat warning takes effect
• ‘Exceptional’ wildfire risk in place

[12 August 2022 10:09 · Emily Atkinson]

Watch: UK bakes amid heatwave with drought looming for some parts of country

[12 August 2022 10:25 · Emily Atkinson]

Sainsbury’s and Tesco halt disposable barbecues sales as UK faces ‘exceptional fire risk’

Sainsbury’s and Tescos are the latest supermarkets to have put a stop to disposable barbecues sales amid fears they could spark dangerous wildfires after the recent dry spell left grassland like a tinderbox.

It follows in the footsteps of Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Aldi in halting sales of the potentially dangerous products entirely.

Tesco initially implemented a temporary local ban on disposable barbecue sales near areas of outstanding natural beauty – a policy similar to those currently in force in Co-op and Morrisons stores.

Read our report in full here:

[12 August 2022 10:37 · Emily Atkinson]

UK weather: Thunderstorm warning issued by Met Office as heavy rain to fall after four-day heatwave

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms and heavy showers across swathes of the UK on Monday in the wake of the heatwave currently scorching the country after months of low rainfall.

The weather warning, issued on Friday morning, will cover much of the UK - bar some areas along the east cost - and will run from 6am to 11.59pm.

Forecasters have warned there is a small risk that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.

More on this breaking story here:

[12 August 2022 11:03 · Emily Atkinson]

Households face further food price surge as ‘dire’ drought conditions hit UK farmers

Households face another surge in the price of staple foods such as bread, potatoes and meat as farmers up and down the country warn crops are being hit by soaring temperatures and drought conditions.

Shoppers have already seen huge rises in food prices and another increase in supermarket prices would likely hit just as energy bills are set to double in October.

As the government prepared to issue an official declaration of drought on Friday, the National Farmers’ Union said it had “never seen a situation like it”, with members reporting unprecedented dry conditions, poorer quality produce and declining yields.

Ben Chapman reports:

[12 August 2022 11:25 · Emily Atkinson]

Satellite images capture sun-baked ground after dry spell

[12 August 2022 11:48 · Emily Atkinson]

Met Office issues second thunderstorm warning for Sunday

The Met Office has issued a second yellow weather warning for thunderstorms next week, which will run from 12pm on Sunday to 6pm on Monday.

Forecasters say hit-and-miss thunderstorms will develop on Sunday and Sunday night, and may bring disruption in places across Scotland and Northern Ireland.

[12 August 2022 12:04 · Chris Baynes]

Drought declared across swathe of England

Parts of the South West, parts of southern and central England, and the East of England are to be moved into drought status, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has confirmed.

[12 August 2022 12:10 · Emily Atkinson]

Drought: How to look after your garden during the hosepipe ban

More parts of England will see hosepipe ban put in place after the UK saw the driest July since 1935.

According to the Met Office, the month of July was the driest for England since 1935 and the driest on record for East Anglia, southeast and southern England.

To combat the drought, a hosepipe ban was put in place to Southern Water customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from on 5 August.

Now, with a drought expected to be declared in England, millions more are facing hosepipe bans.

For those who are worried about watering their gardens, our lifestyle team takes you through some top tips for maintaining a healthy garden:

[12 August 2022 12:15 · Jane Dalton]

Drought declared in southern, central and eastern England

A drought has been declared in large parts of England following the driest July in the UK since 1935.

Parts of the southwest and parts of southern, eastern and central England are to be moved into drought status, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says.

[12 August 2022 12:31 · Jane Dalton]

Watch: Drought announced in some regions