England Drought to Expand as Heatwave Peaks at 36C

More parts of England are expected to be declared in drought this week as the United Kingdom braces for its fifth major heatwave of the year, with temperatures forecast to reach 36C (97F) by Thursday. The National Drought Group is scheduled to meet on Monday, August 10, to assess the situation, with officials warning that several additional areas could soon enter official drought status.

The meeting comes as the country experiences what experts describe as a "flash drought," characterized by a sudden and extreme lack of rainfall. According to the Environment Agency, England has received less than 10mm of rain for seven consecutive weeks, with parts of the southeast seeing less than 1mm. Southern England is approaching two months without any significant rainfall, and Wisley in Surrey has gone more than 50 days without rain.

Currently, more than half of England and the entire nation of Wales are already in an official state of drought. The Environment Agency has indicated that "several areas" could move into drought status within the next seven days, potentially affecting around 16 million additional people. This would build on the drought declarations made in late July, which...