Over half of England now in drought
UK authorities have declared more than half of England in drought after record low rain and exceptionally high temperatures. The seven areas declared in drought comprise 51.4% of England, affecting millions of people with low river flows, early crop harvests, increased wildfire risk, and water use restrictions. This declaration follows what is said to be the driest July on record, with just 7% of expected rainfall nationwide and some parts of southern England seeing just 1% according to the government’s environment agency.
The Environment Agency described the situation as a “flash drought,” which develops quickly due to a combination of very low rainfall and higher temperatures. This is the second consecutive summer that parts of England are experiencing drought. Rivers are running low, farmers are having to harvest crops early, and wildfire risk is increasing. The UK is also experiencing its fourth widespread heatwave of 2026, with the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Service noting that Europe is the world’s fastest warming continent, heating at more than twice the global average.
The drought conditions are being felt across large parts of central, eastern, and southern England, with millions of people already under hosepipe bans. The UK’s meteorological agency announced that both England and the UK saw a daily temperature record for the month of around 38° C in June. The impacts of the drought are widespread, and the Environment Agency has urged people to take steps to conserve water.
This drought declaration is connected to the ongoing heatwave and water scarcity issues that have been affecting England and the wider European region. In recent years, Europe has experienced several severe droughts and heatwaves, highlighting the need for sustainable water management practices and climate resilience strategies.
