LONDON, England: During the record-breaking heatwave that swept Europe, England and France recorded their driest July since 1935 and 1959, respectively.

In a statement this week, the UK's national weather office said England received just 35 percent of its average rainfall for July.

The country's east and south, which recorded its driest July on record since 1836, with only 17 percent of average rainfall, were hit especially hard by the lack of rainfall, the weather office added.

For the first time, the UK saw temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), with a record temperature of 40.3 degrees Celsius being in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, on 19th July.
Meanwhile, French Minister of Ecological Transition Christophe Bchu told France said there was just 7.8 mm of rain in July, adding, "We have a deficit of 88 percent, compared to what would have been necessary."

The heatwave in July caused wildfires in western and southern France, and a new heatwave is expected to hit this week.

According to Mto France, the southwest could reach 40 degrees Celsius this week.

On 18th July, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre researchers stressed that almost half of Europe, including the UK, is at risk of drought.

A "staggering portion" of 44 percent of European Union and UK territory is subject to a drought warning, with 9 percent already on drought alert, they added.