English drought extended into Yorkshire

A drought was officially declared Tuesday for part of Yorkshire in northern England as unseasonably warm weather persisted in the British Isles. The Environment Agency said parts of the county are at their driest in more than a century, The Daily Telegraph reported. Low water levels in rivers like the Derwent are likely to endanger wading birds and other wildlife as well as water plants. Officials said the drought area includes major cities served by Yorkshire Water and environmentally sensitive areas like the North York Moors National Park. Yorkshire Water said it does not expect a hosepipe ban in the immediate future that would restrict car washing, the filling of swimming pools and similar uses. The company said groundwater levels are at 20 percent below capacity in the eastern part of the county, while reservoirs are normal for March, 94 percent of capacity. Southeast England and East Anglia have been officially in drought for several months.