UK drought declared in North Wales and Upper Severn amid prolonged heat and hosepipe bans

Several parts of the United Kingdom have officially declared drought after a prolonged spell of hot, dry weather. North Wales and the Upper Severn are the first areas to make the declaration, with affected districts including North Gwynedd, Ynys Mon, South Gwynedd, Dee, Clwyd and parts of the Upper Severn area. The move comes as the country continues to experience severe rainfall deficits and widespread restrictions on water use.

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The declaration follows three heatwaves in May, June and July, with temperatures repeatedly breaking records, according to the supplied report. It says this month is on track to be the driest July in almost 190 years, with the UK receiving just 3% of its average July rainfall. In the areas directly affected by drought, rainfall has fallen to 2% of the usual level, while ponds and wetlands have dried up.

Natural Resources Wales said the prolonged hot, dry weather is now having serious impacts on the environment across parts of Wales. Rhian Thomas, the organisation's sustainable water and nature manager, said rivers had fallen to exceptionally low levels, groundwater was continuing to decline, and there were increasing reports of harm affecting wildlife, fisheries, farming and sensitive habitats. The report also says hosepipe bans are currently affecting 23 million people nationwide, underlining the scale of the water shortage.

The drought declaration matters because it shows the pressure that sustained heat and low rainfall are placing on water supplies, ecosystems and agriculture. It also comes during a period of wider wildfire risk across the UK, with blazes reported in several areas. In Wales, the government has activated a crisis plan as firefighters struggle to contain fires and the Ministry of Defence has said there is no aerial support available anywhere in the UK, according to the report.

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The situation in Wales is part of a broader pattern of environmental stress this summer. The report says wildfires have broken out across the UK, including in the Cairngorms in Scotland, while firefighters in North Wales are working at several locations including Pentrefelin, Holyhead, Hope Mountain, Pentre Halkyn, Mount Pleasant in Brymbo, and the mountain above Capelulo near Sychnant Pass. A separate wildfire in Derbyshire has burned through more than 600 hectares of moorland since it began a month ago, showing how dry conditions are affecting different parts of the country.

What remains unclear is how long the drought conditions will persist and whether more regions will follow North Wales and the Upper Severn in making formal declarations. The report does not say when hosepipe bans will be lifted or whether further restrictions are being considered. The key developments to watch are rainfall levels, river and groundwater readings, and any further official response from water and emergency authorities.

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