Over Half of England Officially Declared in Drought

More than half of England has officially been declared in drought following record-low rainfall and unusually high temperatures, the United Kingdom government announced on Wednesday.

The declaration comes as the country experiences what is expected to be its driest July on record, with only seven percent of average rainfall recorded nationwide. Some parts of southern England have received as little as one percent of their normal July rainfall, according to the Environment Agency.

Britain is also enduring its fourth widespread heatwave of 2026.

The Environment Agency described the situation as a “flash drought”,  a rapidly developing drought driven by prolonged dry conditions and extreme heat. It marks the second consecutive summer that parts of England have experienced drought conditions.

The agency warned that rivers are running low, farmers are harvesting crops earlier than usual, wildfire risks are increasing, and millions of residents are already subject to water-use restrictions.

“Rivers are running low, farmers are having to harvest crops early, wildfire risk is increasing, and millions of people are living under restrictions on water use,” the agency said as it made the announcement.

Seven regions, including London, East Anglia, the South West and the West Midlands, have now been classified as being in drought, covering about 51.4 percent of England.

The National Drought Group, comprising government agencies, meteorological officials, regulators, water companies and farming representatives, met on Tuesday to assess the situation and coordinate response measures.

Officials also directed water companies to prioritise fixing leaks as part of efforts to manage dwindling supplies.

Helen Wakeham, the Environment Agency’s Director of Water and chair of the National Drought Group, said current water demand is outpacing natural replenishment because of the prolonged hot and dry conditions.

She warned that a second consecutive summer of drought poses serious long-term risks to the environment, wildlife and the economy.

“The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it,” Wakeham said. 

“A second consecutive summer drought is an exceptionally serious situation and one that will have long-lasting impacts on our environment, wildlife, and the economy.”

Separately,  the Met Office, the nation’s meteorological agency, confirmed that revised weather data showed both England and the wider UK recorded a new daily temperature record for June, with temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius, higher than the previously reported 37.7 degrees.