UK weather: More areas move closer to drought as dry spell shows no sign of endingLarge parts of England are edging closer to drought after weeks of exceptionally dry weather, with more than 20 million people set to be affected by hosepipe bans by the end of the week. The National Drought Group has confirmed that several regions across southern, central and eastern England are now in 'prolonged dry weather', the final stage before drought is officially declared. East Anglia, the West Midlands, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire and London, Wessex, the Thames, Solent and the South Downs are all now under prolonged dry weather status. Large parts of England are edging closer to drought after weeks of exceptionally dry weather. The prolonged spell of dry weather has also been accompanied by persistent heat.