United Kingdom: England After the Areas Affected Were Expanded, With Water Resources Now Under Pressure in All Regions of the Country

The National Drought Group, made up of the Environment Agency, other government officials, and industry and farmer representatives, met on Friday. Following the meeting, East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Kent and East Sussex, and Solent and South Downs were added to the drought-affected areas. This means 71.3% of England is now officially in drought, up from half of the country and all of London when drought was first declared in late July.

Some 45 million people live in areas under severe drought conditions, while 27 million are in regions where water use restrictions have been introduced. Tony Grayling, chair of the National Drought Group, said drought conditions are intensifying and will continue without significant and sustained rainfall. Climate change caused by human activity is driving major shifts in England's weather, with some parts of the usually rainy country having seen no significant rain for nearly two months.