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This summer, a village in Surrey has experienced an unprecedented stretch of dry weather, going 50 straight days without any rain. Wisley, known widely for hosting the Royal Horticultural Society’s expansive 240-acre garden, has surpassed its previous record of 36 dry days set during the 1976 heatwave. Since mid-June, the village has not recorded any rainfall, highlighting the severity of this year’s drought conditions. This event coincides with England and Wales enduring their driest July on record, according to Met Office data that goes back 190 years.
The prolonged absence of rain is attributed to persistent high-pressure systems dominating much of England and Wales since late spring. This large area of descending air effectively inhibits cloud formation and precipitation. England recorded a mere 6.5mm of rainfall during July, with Wales seeing only 9.3mm—both totals well below previous records. The dry conditions have been more pronounced in southern regions, while areas like Scotland and Northern Ireland, situated at the edge of these high-pressure zones, have occasionally received scattered showers.
Alongside the dry weather, the high-pressure system has also brought extensive sunshine and elevated temperatures, prompting the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to issue yellow heat health alerts across numerous English regions. These alerts cover areas including the Humber, Midlands, east of England, London, and the South East and South West, continuing from 9:00 BST on Saturday through to 21:00 on Tuesday, 11 August. Temperatures in these zones are expected to climb to the high 20s and low 30s Celsius, with some forecasts anticipating highs reaching into the mid-30s later in the week. The UKHSA cautions that the heat may increase demand on health and social care services and pose risks such as indoor overheating and water-related incidents.
Despite some rainfall occurring in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England earlier this week, the drought in southern parts of England persists, leading to measures such as hosepipe bans in Essex and Suffolk. The end of a drought is not defined by a specific rainfall amount, as recovery depends on multiple factors including rain distribution, duration, and replenishment rates of water sources like rivers and reservoirs. The previous significant drought in 2025 lasted about six months and only ended after a dramatic shift in weather patterns brought weeks of heavy rain. While forecasts suggest some variability and intermittent hotter spells ahead, there remains no clear indication of substantial, drought-ending rainfall in the near future
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