Drought in south-west England

[Eldorado]

Officials will declare a drought in south-west England tomorrow, it’s understood.

Those living in the south-west are likely to be hit with a number of restrictions on domestic and commercial use of water tomorrow, Sky News reports.

The announcement looms after the country suffered the driest start to the year since 1976.

It also follows a heat health alert issued for this week as temperatures surge to 35°C.

Hosepipe bans have already been announced for large swathes of the south – affecting nearly 19 million people.

But this number could jump to 33 million as three more water companies reportedly consider introducing the rule.

Meanwhile, the risk of wildfires breaking out in parts of England and Wales has been elevated to its highest level – ‘exceptional’.

UK Metro at MSN

[Dreamer screamer]

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But this number could jump to 33 million

33?????????

[Eldorado]

An amber extreme heat warning has come into force, with temperatures forecast to hit 37C (99F) in some parts of the UK over the next four days.

The Met Office alert for southern and central England and parts of Wales runs from midnight on Thursday until Sunday.

It has also issued its highest alert for fire severity over the weekend, warning there is an "exceptional" risk of blazes spreading in many places.

The highest temperature on Thursday was 34.2C, at Wiggonholt in West Sussex.

Firefighters have urged the public to help them prevent fires.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-62499044

[Eldorado]

As England and Wales enter a heatwave forecast to last until Sunday, these are challenging times for farmers.

Experts warn that the extreme weather like the hot and dry conditions in July will inevitably lead to smaller harvests in the UK.

This in turn will make the food we buy in the supermarkets even more expensive.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62495034

[openozy]

It's scary, I never thought I'd live to see climate change happening so fast. I'm dreading Summer in Oz.

[Still Waters]

It's now official.

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A drought has been declared across wide swathes of England after a meeting of experts.

The prolonged dry conditions, with some areas of the country not receiving significant rainfall all summer, have caused the National Drought Group to declare an official drought.

The Environment Agency will move into drought in eight of its 14 areas: Devon and Cornwall, Solent and South Downs, Kent and south London, Herts and north London, East Anglia, Thames, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, and the east Midlands.

Documents seen by the Guardian show the Environment Agency expects a further two areas will move into drought later in August. These are Yorkshire and West Midlands.

Scotland and Wales have similar drought reaction groups, which are also understood to be meeting this summer after drier than usual conditions.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/12/drought-declared-england-hosepipe-ban-water-restrictions

[Eldorado]

Thunderstorms and flash floods have hit parts of southern England, amid warnings that the unsettled weather is expected to continue into the weekend.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/storms-and-flash-floods-hit-southern-england/ar-AA10LsZt?

 

[Eldorado]

Sewage hits dozens of beaches in England and Wales after heavy rain

Official data shows there have been a number of discharges since Monday, which Southern Water says are to protect homes and businesses.

The pollution follows a period of heavy rain across southern England, after a spell of extremely dry weather.

Warnings from the Safer Seas and Rivers Service are based on water firms' data.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-62574105

[jethrofloyd]

A fleet of Nazi warships has risen from a drought-stricken river in Europe

This summer has been a brutal one in the Northern Hemisphere, with heat waves sending temperatures skyrocketing and exacerbating ongoing droughts.

The result has been some unusual finds in shrinking rivers and lake beds. In Spain, a kind of Stonehenge-like structure has emerged after thousands of years. Nevada’s Lake Mead continues to recede, uncovering multiple human remains, possibly from the mob’s heyday in Las Vegas. And in Serbia, an entire World War II-era flotilla has made its presence known after decades.

https://taskandpurpose.com/history/europe-drought-nazi-warships/