Almost half of England’s reservoirs are operating at lower than normal water levels, including two classed as “exceptionally low” after four consecutive heatwaves.
Landscapes across the country lie parched with no sign of rain, as this month is on track to be the driest July on record, with huge areas in a flash drought, brought on very suddenly despite a wet winter.
With weeks of summer left to go and minimal rain forecast for the worst-hit areas, many reservoirs are nearing critically low levels, raising fears some locations could run dry.
Shorts
It comes as the UK has been put at risk of a “firewave”, with a lack of rainfall meaning a prolonged period of wildfire activity is looking more likely. A wildfire covering an area of protected heathland the size of 140 football pitches led to the emergency evacuation of at least 60 people in Suffolk on Thursday.
