England Records Driest July Since 1935 Amid Searing Heat Wave

England had the driest July since 1935 amid a searing heat wave that pushed infrastructure to the brink and severely disrupted travel.

The unusually dry weather came as temperatures rose above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for the first time. The intense heat had sparked fires near London, triggered warnings that railway lines could buckle, canceled flights and forced power stations to operate at low levels to prevent overheating.

The dry and hot summer that’s spreading across all of Europe is also a stark reminder of the unfolding climate crisis. Heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense, and temperatures this extreme are set to become more common.

Climate Change Made Deadly UK Heat Wave at Least 10 Times More Likely: Study

A high-pressure weather system dominated the UK last month, pushing most of the rain toward the northwest of the country, according to the Met Office. Rainfall was also more uneven than usual, with England registering just 35% of its average rainfall for July, according to the statement.

Southern England reported its driest July on record, based on the weather provider’s data going back to 1836, with just 17% of the average rainfall for the period. The UK as a whole recorded its driest month in 20 years, with just 56% of the average rain for the month.

Photograph: Firefighters on a buggy pass through Dartford Heath, following a major fire during a heat wave, near Dartford, UK, on Wednesday, July 20, 2022.