New satellite images have shown just how dry Britain is as the country bakes in another heatwave this week.
The normally green and grassy nation can be seen baked in brown as temperatures have soared and rain stayed away over the past few weeks.
The image, taken by the EU’s Copernicus satellite shows the impact the dry weather is having on the country with the heatwave set to continue over the weekend.
Read more: Couple rescued after car is stuck on Holy Island causeway
Parts of the North East can be seen baked in brown with the South and East worst affected.
The ongoing dry conditions, combined with last month’s record-breaking heatwave, have depleted rivers, reservoirs and dried up the ground, hitting agriculture, water supplies and wildlife and raising the risk of wildfires.
Dry ground and hot temperatures have led to an influx of wildfires over the past few days with shocking scenes including a combine harvester catching light in North Yorkshire.
A drought is set to be declared for some parts of England on Friday (August 12) as temperatures are set to hit 35C, making the country hotter than some parts of the Caribbean.
To get more stories direct to your email basket go here
It also comes as Yorkshire Water has become the fifth water company in England and Wales to announce a hosepipe ban as Britons continue to swelter through hot and dry conditions.
July has been the direst on record for some areas alongside the driest first half of the year since 1976.
A four-day amber warning for extreme heat from the Met Office is in place for Southern parts of England and Wales until Sunday, with warnings of health impacts and disruption to travel.
Some have been enjoying the warm weather with North East beauty spots and beaches packed out yesterday as temperatures stayed high.
Read next:
- Watch how Darlington Arena was going to host Eurovision 2023 if it won
- Met Office weather warning: North East to be hit by thunderstorms
- Met Office reveals when it will rain in the North East
If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here