Hampshire And Isle Of Wight Officially Declared In Drought As Dry Weather Continues

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have officially been declared in drought as England experiences one of its driest summers on record.

The Environment Agency has confirmed seven areas of England are now in drought following exceptionally low rainfall and prolonged hot weather, with Hampshire and the Isle of Wight among the affected regions.

Officials say a combination of record-low rainfall and repeated heatwaves has led to a "flash drought", with rivers running low, wildfire risk increasing and pressure mounting on water supplies.

July has so far seen just seven per cent of its average rainfall, with some parts of southern England receiving as little as one per cent of what would normally be expected.

Parts of Hampshire have now gone 49 days without measurable rainfall.

The Environment Agency says it has stepped up its response by increasing monitoring of water resources and controlling how much water can be taken from rivers and groundwater.

Helen Wakeham, Director of Water at the Environment Agency and Chair of the National Drought Group, said:

"The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it.

"A second consecutive summer drought is an exceptionally serious situation and one that will have long-lasting impacts on our environment, wildlife, and the economy.

"We want everyone to stay safe and hydrated during the hot weather but every drop we can save is a drop more for nature and agriculture."

The National Drought Group met with Water Minister Emma Hardy on Tuesday to review the situation across England, with water companies urged to prioritise fixing leaks and securing supplies ahead of the autumn.

Emma Hardy said:

"Our climate is changing, droughts are becoming increasingly common, and we need to be prepared for this new normal.

"We expect water companies to follow their drought plans, to go further and faster to reduce leaks, and to ensure supplies are not disrupted even in the driest of weather."

The Met Office has warned there is currently little sign of the widespread, sustained rainfall needed to ease drought conditions.

Chief Meteorologist Will Lang said that while some unsettled weather is possible during the first part of August, it is unlikely to make a significant difference to the areas worst affected by the dry weather.

According to the Environment Agency, around 78 per cent of England's rivers are now below normal levels, while reservoir storage has fallen to 75.3 per cent - more than seven per cent below the long-term average for this time of year.

Seven water companies, including Southern Water, have introduced Temporary Use Bans affecting around 23 million customers across England.

The Environment Agency is urging people to use water wisely by taking shorter showers, turning off taps while brushing their teeth and fixing leaking toilets, saying small changes can help protect supplies until sustained rainfall returns.