• [Dailystar Icon]
• News
• Climate Change

Freak 'tornado' rips through 'Wild West' England as 70% of nation suffers drought

England is turning into the 'Wild West' after a dust-devil 'mini-tornado' tore through packed Greenwich Park, while the country battles drought conditions

[1_Screenshot-2026-08-11-at-102706-2.jpg]

(Image: @miinamcintyre/Instagram )

England is starting to look like the 'Wild West'- with 71.3% of the country now in drought and even a freak 'mini-tornado' ripping through local parks.

Hundreds of stunned sunbathers were caught out when a swirling 'dust devil' suddenly erupted in Greenwich Park, south-east London, on Sunday (August 9).

Viral footage filmed by parkgoer Jimmy OKeeffe shows a tight vortex spinning across bone-dry grass, firing leaves, litter and grit high into the air as people screamed and ran.

The spinning column formed in seconds as families and tourists soaked up the sunshine - then barrelled straight through picnickers, sending food, blankets and debris flying.

[A discarded tyre sits on the bedof the near depleted Edgbaston Reservoir, which feeds the canal system, on August 04, 2026 in Birmingham]

A discarded tyre sits on the bedof the near depleted Edgbaston Reservoir, which feeds the canal system, on August 04, 2026 in Birmingham(Image: Getty Images)

The whirlwind lasted a few minutes before losing energy and disappearing. No injuries or serious damage were reported, and witnesses said most people calmed down once the shock wore off.

Online, Brits compared the capital to a desert. A TikTok user commented: London so dry its turned into the Wild West.

A person penned: Why is Greenwich no longer green. Someone else wrote: Oh hell nah we got tornados in the London server now???

[The dried and cracked bed of the depleted Hollow Pond and Leyton flats near Wanstead, east London, on August 10, 2026]

The dried and cracked bed of the depleted Hollow Pond and Leyton flats near Wanstead, east London, on August 10, 2026(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Another added: London or Arizona? A separate individual chimed in: Im in the southwest and I saw a tumble weed yesterday near a country road, it was a small tumble weed maybe 2/3rd of the size of my phone but I was baffled.

Despite the scary look, the Met Office says a dust devil isnt a true tornado. They form on hot, clear days when intense sunshine superheats dry ground, making air rise fast and start spinning, sucking up loose debris.

However, this type of scene might become commonplace in the country, as officials confirmed drought is spreading fast. A joint update released Monday (August 10) by the Environment Agency, Defra, the Met Office and Water Minister Emma Hardy MP said: Almost three-quarters of England is now in drought as conditions worsen following a dry start to August.

[Texas or London?]

Texas or London?(Image: @miinamcintyre/Instagram )

It added: Along with the areas announced last week, most of the country (71.3%) is now experiencing a flash drought - which develops very quickly brought about by a combination of very low rainfall and higher temperatures This takes the total to 45 million people in a drought area.

Over 27 million people are now living under restrictions on water use. Tony Grayling, the Environment Agencys Strategic Drought Lead, warned: Drought conditions are worsening and will continue to do so until we see significant and sustained rainfall.

Met Office head Sarah Davies said: July 2026 was one of the most remarkable months in the UKs climate record these conditions have significantly increased pressure on water resources.

And Emma Hardy said: As we move through this period of drought, I expect water companies to take every available step to minimise leakage and support customers in using water wisely.

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.

[Dailystar Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Star as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.