July has left an unusual mark on England’s weather record. Rain almost disappeared from parts of the country while temperatures stayed well above normal and sunshine accumulated day after day. By the end of the month, England had recorded only 6.5mm of rain, just 10 per cent of its usual July rainfall and less than half the previous record set in 1911. Southern England went further still, with 1.9mm for the entire month. The result was not simply a dry summer spell, but a month that now sits among the most extreme in England’s long climate record, as pressure on rivers, reservoirs, farmland and wildlife continued to build. The prolonged lack of rainfall also increased concerns about water supplies and soil moisture, particularly in areas already affected by earlier dry conditions. For communities and farmers, the record-breaking month highlighted how quickly persistent heat and rainfall deficits can turn into wider environmental stress.
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