Drought Declared in Half of England Amid Heatwave Threatening Water Supplies
A significant portion of England has been officially declared in drought due to a prolonged heatwave and lack of rainfall. The affected regions include East Anglia, Hertfordshire, London, Thames Valley, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Devon, Cornwall, West Midlands, and Wessex. The Environment Agency reports that rivers are running low, farmers are harvesting crops early, and millions face water use restrictions. The drought follows a dry spring and wet winter, described as 'climate whiplash' by meteorologists. A cross-government task force has been launched to secure water supplies into autumn, focusing on leak prevention.