Warning of wildfires risk as drought hits parts of England

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If news of drought, scorched earth and soaring temperatures has given you climate anxiety, rest assured - you are not alone.

But there are some things you can do to alleviate the sense of doom.

Scientists who have been working on climate change for years recommend being proactive and channelling your fears into something useful, as well as finding a community of like-minded worriers.

Read more advice here.

This video shows a wildfire near Crawley, Sussex, that destroyed 40 acres of grassland on Thursday.

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Rising summer temperatures are causing longer and more frequent heatwaves across the United Kingdom.

BBC analysis estimates that six million people live in places at risk of higher heat during the summer months.

Using satellite data from 4 Earth Intelligence, the BBC mapped how vulnerable postcode areas were to extreme heat in England, Wales and Scotland during periods of hot weather over the past three summers - shown with a heat hazard score.

Check here to see if your postcode is vulnerable to extreme heat.

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The price of potatoes, carrots and other vegetables could increase in the winter as a result of poor growing conditions in the dry weather, according to a Conservative former government minister.

"The situation is very difficult," explains Robert Goodwill, who chairs the Commons environment, food and rural affairs select committee.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's World at One programme, he calls on the government to "concentrate more on food production" and offer more help to farmers.

Goodwill, who himself runs an arable farm in North Yorkshire, says 2022 has probably been the driest year in his agricultural career.

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Following July's record-breaking heatwave, London’s fire commissioner called for a total national ban on disposable barbecues after they were blamed for starting wildfires in England.

This was not imposed, but local authorities and event organisers are taking steps to limit the use of disposable barbecues.

Boardmasters Festival, which takes place in Cornwall this weekend, has banned them, as have city councils like Nottingham and Birmingham.

In Guernsey, where no official ban is in place, the chief fire officer has urged people to take part in a "voluntary BBQ and bonfire ban" in the outdoors to cut the number of wildfires.

On Thursday, Sainsbury's and Tesco announced they were joining other supermarket chains in removing disposable barbecues from their shop shelves during the current heatwave. Coop followed suit today. Marks and Spencer's, Aldi and Waitrose have already halted sales.

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You might be relishing the prospect of showers, which are forecast in some parts of the UK at the start of next week, and it's likely they will be accompanied by a certain scent you might be familiar with.

Rain can actually smell appealing after a long period of dry weather - and there's some chemistry involved in the phenomenon.

Surprisingly, a fragrance released by bacteria in wet soil can play a significant role. As can the scent of plants and the freshening of air that happens with lightning strikes.

Known as petrichor, the scent has long been chased by scientists and even perfumers for its enduring appeal.

Read more about petrichor here.

Rain is in the forecast next week, but it'll be the "wrong" kind and could lead to some localised flash flooding and not really alleviate drought conditions.

With low pressure moving in, we'll get showers and thunderstorms scattered across the UK. The ground however is parched, and this makes a difference to what happens when the rain hits it.

In a normal summer when the ground is green and moist, water can easily soak into it. When it is parched and hard, rainfall - especially heavy rain with thunderstorms - tends to hit the ground and run off.

With rainfall running off the surface - in the same way it does with concrete - it is more likely to produce a flash flood. It also means that the rainfall is transported quickly into streams and rivers rather than filtering into the ground where it landed.

So rather than scattered heavy showers, the "right" kind of rain we need is from the more persistent and steady type. This gives the parched ground more time to soak up the rainfall before it disappears into the nearest drain or river.

To go further and alleviate drought conditions we'll need weeks of rainfall to bring the reservoirs and river levels back up to normal.

This is not in the forecast, however - so there are concerns that drought issues may persist well into the autumn in some locations.

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Farmers in Wales say the summer's dry weather has affected crop yields - and even the size of potatoes.

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Labour leader Keir Starmer has accused the government of failing to fully prepare the UK for drought, and hit out at the response of water companies.

"There’s a familiar pattern here, which is we’ve got a government with no strategy," Starmer says, in response to the Environment Agency moving eight of its 14 areas in England into drought status.

"This drought, this hot period, was predictable. But, as usual, we had no plan from the government and this is the pattern, this is the character of this government."

He said water companies aren't doing enough to deal with leakages and other water supply issues.

"We saw the sewage going into rivers and I think that some of the regulations should have been better used," Starmer told reporters during a visit to Edinburgh.

"I would have liked to have seen much greater fines against those companies that aren’t doing what is necessary."

You've been sending us pictures of the drought where you are. Here is a small selection.

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John Curtin, executive director for local operations at the Environment Agency, has told the BBC that this has been the South East's driest July since records began in 1891.

There was also a drought after the hot summer of 1976, although we are better placed to deal with it today thanks to a modern water infrastructure and a slightly-wetter-than-average winter, he says.

Curtin also said the drought announcement showed that "this is not a normal summer" and that everyone should be thinking about using water wisely as it "will probably be an issue for months ahead depending how the winter goes".

"It will take weeks of rain to stop the drought which is currently affecting parts of England," he adds.

But how long will the drought last?

Curtin said: "It all depends on the weather, I'm afraid. There will be heavy showers probably Monday, Tuesday next week. But, please, don't think that will stop the drought because... we've lost a week's worth of rain and it'll take weeks of rain.

"We'll need probably average or slightly above average rainfall this autumn into this winter for us to not be a drought next year."

A comparison of satellite images taken last August and three days ago clearly shows how the area surrounding Cambridge is significantly parched this year:

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As the heatwave continues to sweep England and Wales, we asked dermatologist Dr Adeline Kikam about how extreme heat can impact our skin.

She says several skin conditions can develop, or worsen, during persistently high temperatures. Some of those conditions are:

• heat rash
• sunburn
• aggravated eczema (dry, irritated skin)
• chafing
• increased breakouts and spots

Why?

Heat rashes, tiny bumps or blisters in the skin, happen when there is an obstruction in the sweat ducts and inflammation. It's more common during the summer because it's triggered by heat and humidity.

Dr Kikam says high temperatures can worsen or aggravate eczema. High temperatures lead to increased sweating, which in turn can make the skin even drier and the salt residue from the sweat can cause inflammation in the skin. This combination leads to redness, and general discomfort.

Increased spots and breakouts are common during high temperatures because there's an excess secretion of oil from our sebaceous glands. This combined with sweating and products like make-up can clog your pores and trap dirt in the skin.

Sunburns are the result of long exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. If you have darker skin, and therefore more melanin, your body has a base protective layer to UV radiation and it might take longer to notice the symptoms of sunburn (redness and blisters). "Damage to the skin is just not as visible, but you're still getting the damage," Dr Kikam says.

What should you do?

For those suffering from heat rashes, Dr Kikam says patients should remove themselves from hot and humid environments when possible and ensure they have access to good ventilation, by using fans and air conditioner - and keep the affected area of the skin dry.

The same goes for chafing: wearing loose clothing, ensuring your skin is dry and avoiding friction are the best ways to avoid it.

However, for those suffering from aggravated eczema, it is important to keep your skin moisturised with neutral lotions.

For sunburns, Dr Kikam says everyone should ensure they're wearing sunscreen to protect themselves from exposure to UV radiation and protecting themselves from direct sun exposure for long periods of time.

Regularly cleansing your skin ensures you can minimise your risk of having breakouts, as you are avoiding product build up and keeping your pores unclogged.

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Listen to the latest episode of Newscast, which features an interview with the head of Environment Agency, Sir James Bevan, about the impact of the recent dry weather and soaring temperatures - plus BBC experts discuss how the hot conditions will affect crops and agriculture, and when we can expect some rain.

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Farmers are demanding ministers ensure water supplies for farmers are given the same priority as those for the environment.

Supporting food production is not part of the remit of the Environment Agency, which determines where much of the country’s water supplies go, warns Tom Bradshaw, the deputy president of the National Farmers Union (NFU).

"That has to change to protect food supplies," he says and suggests government ministers may need to bring in new rules.

"Farmers recognise the importance of protecting the environment but food production needs to be given equal status," he told the BBC.

The demand comes as farms in England and parts of Wales face serious water shortages. Testimony from the NFU formed a key part of the evidence which persuaded the government to put much of England in drought.

Half the country’s potato crop cannot be irrigated so is very vulnerable to drought, the meeting of the National Drought Group, which met this morning, was told.

The NFU warned "irrigation options are diminishing with reservoirs being emptied fast". It said farmers are expecting losses of between 10% and 50% for crops including carrots, onions, sugar beet, apples and hops.

Farmers would normally be planting their rapeseed crop at this time of year.

But, says Bradshaw, conditions are so bad at the moment very few farmers are likely to plant the crop.

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If you're at a Coldplay gig during the heatwave, you'll want to avoid getting a Rush of Blood to the Head.

So the band have issued advice on how to enjoy their concerts while staying safe in high temperatures.

The British band are playing six shows at Wembley Stadium, which has a capacity of 90,000, between tonight and August 21.

On Twitter they advise fans:

• not to arrive too early
• to avoid drinking too much alcohol
• to wear light clothing
• to bring a water bottle up to 500ml to refill
• wear a hat
• apply sunscreen

In response to much of Britain being declared under drought conditions, Ami McCarthy, climate campaigner for Greenpeace UK, says the drought across Europe, the extreme heatwaves and the cost of living crisis "are all the result of our climate-destroying reliance on fossil fuels".

She also accuses governments across the world of "handing out billions to fossil fuel giants, subsidising their reckless profiteering, including in the UK where our government continues to offer lucrative 'investment incentives'":

Quote Message: We urgently need to turn away from fossil fuels and towards the clean, green energy of the future, which is the only way to bring down global temperatures and tackle the cost of living crisis.

We urgently need to turn away from fossil fuels and towards the clean, green energy of the future, which is the only way to bring down global temperatures and tackle the cost of living crisis.

Quote Message: Renewables are now at least four times cheaper than fossil fuels so a shift toward green energy is not only good for the climate but an economic necessity. Governments need to decide whose side they're on." from Ami McCarthy

Renewables are now at least four times cheaper than fossil fuels so a shift toward green energy is not only good for the climate but an economic necessity. Governments need to decide whose side they're on."

Researchers at the University of Reading have been investigating how long it will take water to get through parched soil - which has baked dry due to the high temperatures and low rainfall.

Although we are currently in the middle of a four-day heatwave, the Met Office has issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms for much of the UK, beginning in Scotland and Northern Ireland from Sunday afternoon. As the hot weather subsides in the north, the change brings with it the risk of some intense thundery downpours and the chance of some surface water flooding.

Dr Rob Thompson’s experiment demonstrates that it will take significantly longer for water to be soaked in to patches of grass after the hot conditions parts of the UK have been experiencing.

The World Meteorological Organization called the experiment “clear and compelling”.

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The mayor of London Sadiq Khan has said he is “seriously concerned” that London may experience severe flash flooding following the extended period of dry weather, with the capital “unprepared” for the heavy rain that may yet come.

All of London has been officially declared in drought by the National Drought Group, after almost a month without rain in some areas.

While rain is forecast in London next week, dry ground absorbs water more slowly leading to fears that the capital may face flash floods.

Khan said he was worried that London could see a repeat of the flash flooding that damaged thousand of homes and the city's transport network in July 2021.

“We are coordinating with councils what we’d do if that [flooding] was to happen, but let’s be frank, a city like London is not ready for the consequences of climate change and we’ve got to get ready," he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.