England faces record drought with only 6.5mm of rain in July

In July 2026, England experienced its driest month on record since 1836, receiving a mere 6.5mm of rainfall, which is only 10% of the long-term average for the month. This unprecedented drought also affected Wales, which recorded its driest July ever, while Northern Ireland noted its eighth driest. Scotland, while not setting a new record, still saw only 69% of its average rainfall for the month. The southern regions of England were particularly hard hit, with some areas, such as the Sussex coast, receiving less than 0.2mm of rain. The lack of precipitation led to significantly low moisture levels in the soil, contributing to soaring temperatures that reached the high 30s Celsius. As August progressed, forecasts indicated that southern England might only experience sporadic showers, despite some rain in the north. The weather models suggested a possibility of more unsettled conditions reaching the southeast, but as the date approached, the rain remained largely confined to the northwestern parts of Britain. This ongoing dry spell raised concerns about the potential for it to continue, given the uncertainty in weather predictions. Additionally, a disturbance in the Atlantic, located about 1,000 miles east of the Lesser Antilles, was being monitored for potential development into a tropical depression, which could bring gusty winds and heavy rainfall to the region. The National Hurricane Centre indicated an 80% chance of this system forming within 48 hours, which would mark the fourth named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, potentially named Dolly. However, the strong El Niño phenomenon this year is expected to reduce overall hurricane activity in the Atlantic, complicating the weather patterns further.