LONDON — The UK government declared a drought on Friday in parts of southern, eastern and central England. This is because the country, unaccustomed to such extreme heat, endured another day of scorching conditions.
The declaration came after a group of officials and experts, including the National Drought Group, met to discuss the government’s response to “the driest summer in 50 years.” said in a statementExtreme weather warnings were also issued for parts of southern England and Wales, just weeks after the UK hit record temperatures.
In a statement released after the drought group meeting, UK water minister Steve Double said that parts of the country are now experiencing their second heatwave after the driest July on record. I’m here.
“Governments and other partners are already taking action” to deal with the drought, he added.
The declaration marks the country’s first official drought since 2018, allowing water companies to impose stricter conservation measures. Some water companies have temporarily banned the use of hoses for watering gardens and yards and washing vehicles.
“Water companies are already dealing with the unprecedented impact of the driest winter and spring since the 1970s. To ensure this, it is important to pay more attention to water use, said Peter Jenkins, Communications Director at industry association Water UK. said in a statement.
The Meteorological Service, the Meteorological Service of the United Kingdom, A heat wave advisory has been issued Higher temperatures across much of southern England and parts of Wales through Sunday will not only disrupt travel, but may also increase the risk of heat-related illnesses for certain groups. .
Wiggonholt in southern England has recorded the highest temperature in the country Thursday, 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit (34.2 Celsius). By midday on Friday, temperatures in southern England were already hitting 90.5 degrees Fahrenheit (32.5 degrees Celsius), meteorologists said, and could rise further over the weekend. But meteorologists also predict conditions will not be as extreme as her July, when Britain experienced temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius for the first time.
The threat of heatwaves and bushfires has alerted UK firefighters, who say they are unprepared to deal with such extreme weather. After years of downsizing and cut funding from the central government, fire and rescue services are ill-equipped to cope, union officials say.
Fires raged across London on July 19, the height of the month’s heatwave, destroying more than 40 facilities and injuring 16 firefighters. According to the fire brigade union, chronic understaffing had put more than a quarter of his fire trucks out of service that day in the city.
“We have been warning about this for a long time,” said Riccardola Torre, a senior union official. “This issue has not been resolved.”
London fire brigade 340 outdoor fires dealt with in the first week of Augustmore than eight times the number recorded during the same period last year.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan urged residents on Thursday This is to avoid barbecues on balconies, parks and backyards as they can start fires.
Some retail chains have stopped selling disposable grills during the dry season. The Guardian reported.
A heat wave that hit across Britain in July was exacerbated by climate change, according to a scientific report. There is no doubt that waves are getting hotter, more frequent and longer lasting. As the burning of fossil fuels increases the average global temperature, so does the range of temperatures, making extreme temperatures more likely. This means that all heatwaves are exacerbated to some extent by changes in planetary chemistry caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
Dan Roberts, a psychotherapist in London, said Thursday that he is giving patients the option to book appointments on Zoom because of the extreme heat. “My office is like an oven,” he said. said, adding that traveling in the heat might be too much of a strain for some. .
Rising temperatures can negatively affect a person’s emotional well-being, Roberts said.
“What we’ve found is that when temperatures rise, things like road rage, violent crime, domestic violence, and so on, skyrocket,” he said. , our emotions, especially anger, become more volatile.
Economist Ashley Moore, who works from home in Leeds, in the north of England, has not only moved her desk around her office to avoid the sun, but also wears less clothes to work and face the camera. said to avoid.
Moore said he plans to take refuge in a local beer garden and stay near the canal to cool off for the weekend. At home, he purchased an extra fan. He admitted that he was still adjusting.
“It’s nice to be on vacation in the heat,” he said, but “I don’t expect to do this regularly here, at this time of year, with this intensity. I don’t enjoy it.”
Cora Engelbrecht When Ewan Ward contributed to the report.