Some 45 million people have been plunged into drought conditions as dry and hot weather continues to blight large swathes of England and Wales.
The National Drought Group determined that 71.3 per cent of England is now experiencing a flash drought, warning on Monday that conditions will get worse without "significant and sustained rainfall".
The East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Kent and East Sussex, and Solent and the South Downs joined the regions suffering from drought, with nowhere now deemed in normal status.
Temperatures are expected to reach highs of 30C on Tuesday, before climbing through the week and reaching peaks of 36C in East Anglia and the South East by Thursday.
The UK Health Security Agency upgraded its heat health alert for the south-west to amber from Tuesday to Friday, signalling greater health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups.
England and Wales recorded their driest July in records dating back to 1836, with 19 counties of England seeing no rain for the entire month, provisional statistics have shown.
The latest drought warnings came as parts of the UK braced for the fifth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures expected to climb into the mid 30Cs later in the week.
Recap: Almost three-quarters of England in drought as conditions worsen in dry August
Almost three-quarters of England is in “flash drought” as a dry start to August follows the country’s driest July on record, the Environment Agency (EA) has said.
The East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Kent and East Sussex, and Solent and the South Downs have become the latest areas to move into drought.
The announcement came after a meeting of officials, water companies and farming leaders under the National Drought Group, which warned that all regions of the country are experiencing pressure on their water resources, with impacts on agriculture, public water supplies and the environment.
Last week, the EA announced that half of England had plunged into flash drought – one which develops very quickly because of a combination of very low rainfall and high temperatures – and the latest announcement means 71.3 per cent of the country is in drought.
The North East and Yorkshire have moved to “prolonged dry weather” status, the stage before drought, and nowhere in England is in “normal” status, the EA said.
The latest drought warnings came as parts of the UK braced for the fifth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures expected to climb into the mid 30Cs later in the week, peaking at 36C on Thursday.
In pictures: Majority of England in drought
'Water resilience cannot be treated as a seasonal issue'
Fran Barnes, chief executive of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), said: “With almost three-quarters of England in ‘flash drought’ and all of Wales now officially in drought, numerous water restrictions and Temporary Use Bans (TUBS) across the UK, and data showing that last month was officially the driest July on record, the pressure on our water resources couldn’t be clearer.
“The solution to the UK’s water challenges lies not just in the amount of rainfall, but in how effectively we capture, store, and manage it. Today we reiterated the need for the UK to take action and implement a long-term water resilience strategy that addresses the realities of a changing climate.
“The current conditions are having a huge impact on our 1,400 members – garden retailers, growers, landscapers, designers, suppliers and manufacturers – despite our sector investing heavily in becoming more water efficient. Growers increasingly capture and recycle rainwater, retailers and landscapers promote drought-tolerant planting and more effective watering, including water butts and efficient irrigation systems suitable for gardeners, not just professional growers. We set out these needs again today at the National Drought Group meeting.
“Our climate may be changing, but our message remains clear: water resilience cannot be treated as a seasonal issue.
Where has been affected by the droughts?
Officials from the National Drought Group assessed on Monday that 71.3 per cent of the country is now in drought, with the addition of the East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Kent and East Sussex, and Solent and the South Downs bringing the number of people affected up to 45 million nationwide.
The North East and Yorkshire have moved to prolonged dry weather – the stage before drought – with nowhere now deemed in normal status, and 27 million people are currently living under restrictions on water use, they said.
In full: Swimming pools and car washes could be banned as drought declared across most of England
Swimming pools and car washes are among the UK businesses that could be hit by a water ban as providers look to conserve resources amid drought conditions and an upcoming fifth heatwave.
Southern Water has applied to the government for permission to issue a “non-essential use ban” in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. If granted and put into action, the policy would prevent businesses from activities like washing cars with hosepipes and filling private swimming pools.
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Water minister: 'We know how challenging this summer has been'
Water minister Emma Hardy, who attended the National Drought Group, said: “We know how challenging this summer has been, especially for our hard-working farmers who are at the sharp end of climate change and an increasing number of floods and droughts.”
She said the Government was working to make it easier for farmers to build more onsite irrigation reservoirs – something farming leaders have been calling for – and was delivering “long-term change” in the water industry to reduce leaks and deliver nine new reservoirs.
“As we move through this period of drought, I expect water companies to take every available step to minimise leakage and support customers in using water wisely”, she said as she thanked people for abiding by hosepipe bans.
Mapped: Where drought has been declared in the UK as another heatwave looms
Almost three-quarters of England is now suffering from drought as weather conditions continue to worsen into August, piling pressure onto vital industries.
Officials from the National Drought Group assessed on Monday that 71.3 per cent of the country is now in drought, with the addition of the East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Kent and East Sussex, and Solent and the South Downs bringing the number of people affected up to 45 million nationwide.
Nowhere in England in 'normal' status
The North East and Yorkshire have moved to “prolonged dry weather” status, the stage before drought, and nowhere in England is in “normal” status, the Environment Agency said.
The East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Kent and East Sussex, and Solent and the South Downs have become the latest areas to move into drought.