According to Sky News, drought is expected to be declared tomorrow in the Southwest.
It comes after the start of a four-day, below-normal amber heat warning in waterways and Britain’s driest July since 1935, during which temperatures rose above 40C for the first time. .
The declaration means that people living across the Southwest can expect to see a range of restrictions on domestic and commercial water use – including bans on the use of water cannons.
“Now this may not be a huge surprise given the record-breaking temperatures we’ve seen and the really extremely arid conditions we’ve seen across the country, but South West England is one in the worst-affected areas – and we expect an announcement to be made tomorrow,” said Sky News political correspondent Tamara Cohen.
“And it’s unthinkable that a drought situation could occur in other parts of the country.”
There is no single definition for drought – so even though it is due to periods of low rainfall, each period is different, with varying nature, duration and impact depending on location and affected areas. impacts such as public water supply, agriculture, and the environment. or industry.
The Environment Agency’s National Drought Team together looks at statistics including rainfall, water remaining in rivers and reservoirs, as well as temperature forecasts for the coming weeks to decide if the weather is bad. drought has been reached or not.
There’s no need to achieve specific goals – they just decide if all of these factors constitute a drought, and they can give an indication of its severity and duration.
The two most recent droughts were announced in 2018 and a more severe drought in 2011.
