00:00UK authorities on Wednesday declared more than half of England in drought after record low rain and exceptionally high temperatures.
00:08It follows what is said to be the driest July on record, with just 7% of expected rainfall nationwide
00:15and some parts of southern England seen just 1%, according to the government's environment agency.
00:22The seven areas declared in drought comprises 51.4% of England.
00:28Describing it as a flash drought, which develops quickly and is caused by a combination of very low rainfall and
00:34higher temperatures, it was the second consecutive summer parts of England were experiencing drought.
00:41According to the government's environment agency, rivers are running low, farmers are having to harvest crops early, wildlife risk is
00:49increasing, and millions of people are living under restrictions on water use.
00:55Meanwhile, the UK's meteorological agency announced on Wednesday it had finalized readings in June, and that both England and the
01:03UK saw a daily temperature record for the month of around 38 degrees Celsius.
01:09The UK is also experiencing its fourth widespread heat wave of 2026.
01:15According to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Service, Europe is the world's fastest warming continent, heating at more than twice
01:23the global average.
