Met Office reveals parts of UK set to see longest unbroken dry spell this century

Met Office reveals parts of UK set to see longest unbroken dry spell this century Central and south-east England have not seen a drop of rain in weeks, the longest dry spell since the start of the century, as Brits are warned of possible drought conditions ahead Parts of the UK are baking in the longest dry spell this century, according to forecasters. Met Office weather stations in central and south-east England have recorded zero rainfall for 14 days in a row, the longest period without rain in decades. Not a drop fell between Thursday July 2 and Wednesday July 15, the latest data shows, with warm and sunny weather set to continue over the coming days following three heatwaves. The increasingly extreme weather is thanks to human-driven climate change, scientists have warned, with an uptick in extreme weather events and disrupted global rainfall patterns. Large areas of southern England have been hit with hosepipe bans as the baking weather increases the strain on dwindling water supplies. It comes as officials warn of a growing risk of drought in parts of the UK this year, with the hot summer following a record warm spring for England and Wales. Recent days have brought the longest unbroken run of days with no rain for south-east England since a 15-day spell in April 1997, according to the Met Office figures. It is also the longest period for central England since a 14-day run of no recorded rainfall in June 1996. Data for July 16 has yet to be published, but could show the rain-free spells in both regions extended for even longer. The Met Office also revealed that temperatures in the UK on Thursday peaked at 30.6C at Merryfield in Somerset, making it the 12th day in a row when 30C has been exceeded somewhere in the country. There were 18 consecutive days of 30C-plus temperatures in the punishingly hot year of 1976, when drought conditions damaged crops, scorched landscapes and forced people to use standpipes in the street.But there have now been 27 days in 2026, consecutive and non-consecutive, when 30C has been exceeded somewhere in the UK: seven in May, eight in June and 12 in July. The record for the number of 30C-plus days in a calendar year is 34, which was set in 1995. David Hayter, the Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist, said: “Every day for the last 11 days, somewhere in the UK has seen temperatures reach or exceed 30C. “The high pressure, which has brought this prolonged fine spell, will continue for the next week or so at least, but will shift enough to enable a more northerly flow that will introduce a cooler feel that will end the run of 30C days. “However, we are still likely to see some locations remain in heatwave conditions to finish the week.” It is still too early to say whether heatwave conditions will last beyond the next 10 days and towards the end of July, the Met Office said. Brits have spent the summer roasting with temperatures above average for the time of year and particularly hot nights over recent weeks.