July 2022 was the driest month in England since 1935 according to provisional data from the Met Office. Last month, the nation faced extreme heat and temperatures surpassed 40C for the first time ever in parts of England.
While it didn't quite reach 40C in the south west, the region has seen a below average level of rainfall for July. So far, Bristol Water and Wessex Water have ruled out the need to impose a hose pipe ban despite reservoir levels dropping lower than normal.
In a statement, the Environment Agency advised: "There are currently no plans for restrictions on essential water use, we can all do our bit by reducing unnecessary water consumption and following advice from our water company to ensure this remains the case whilst our rivers are exceptionally low."
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People across the country are bring urged to use water wisely to protect water supplies and the environment during the current period of prolonged dry weather.
Mark McCarthy, Head of the Met Office National Climate Information Centre, said: “It is not just July that has been dry. Since the start of the year, all months apart from February have been drier than average in the UK too. The result of this is that the winter, spring and summer of 2022 have all seen less than the UK average seasonal rainfall.
Regions in the south and east were especially dry, with southern England reporting its driest July on record dating back to 1836, with 10.5mm of rain, which is just 17 per cent of its average rainfall. Thirteen counties across southern and eastern England reported their driest July on record, including Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Dorset and Kent.
Rainfall has not been distributed evenly in July though the contrast has been more stark than usual. England had just 35 per cent (23.1mm) of its average rainfall for the month, Wales 53 per cent (52mm), Northern Ireland 51 per cent (45.8mm) and Scotland saw 81 per cent (83.6mm).
So far, the weather forecaster has avoided comparing the 2022 statistics with those of 1976 when the UK saw unusually hot periods of weather reaching above 35C. Despite the dry trend, England had 30 per cent more rain during the first six months of the year than in 1976, the Met Office said.
The Met Office has forecast some light showers for parts of the south west towards the end of the week, with temperatures set to remain warm.
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