The whole of Wales is now in drought, as the UK struggles with extreme heat, wildfires and dry conditions that experts warn may linger until the autumn. Half of England is officially in drought, despite a very wet winter, as an extremely dry July compounded a dry spring, and the successive heatwaves have put pressure on water resources. Phil Garrigan, chairman of the National Fire Chiefs Council, said: “Wildfires are no longer isolated or seasonal events. Temperature records have tumbled throughout the summer, with heatwaves in May and June both recording new highs for the time of year. “Meaningful recovery from prolonged dry conditions often relies on more frequent and widespread rainfall during the autumn months, when weather patterns typically become more changeable.”