More than half of England has been officially declared in drought following a period of record-low rainfall and sustained high temperatures, the government’s Environment Agency announced on Wednesday. This development marks the second consecutive summer with drought conditions affecting parts of the country, despite heavy rainfall during the winter months earlier in the year.
The so-called "flash drought" — a rapidly developing drought caused by a combination of minimal rainfall and prolonged heat — now affects seven regions: East Anglia, Hertfordshire and the entirety of London, Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, the West Midlands, and Wessex, which includes Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and south Gloucestershire. Together, these areas cover just over 51 percent of England’s landmass and population.
July is on track to be the driest month on record, with nationwide rainfall measuring only seven percent of the expected average, dropping to as low as one percent in parts of southern England. Some locations, such as certain areas in Devon, have not recorded any measurable rainfall for nearly 50 days. The Royal Horticultural Society’s garden in Wisley, Surrey, has endured 43 consecutive rainless days and is nearing a national drought record set in 1976 of 45 days without rain.
Heatwaves have persisted throughout the summer, with England currently experiencing its fourth widespread heatwave of the year. The Met Office recently verified a new daily temperature record for June with a reading of 38°C, higher than previously recorded. Temperatures have frequently exceeded 35°C during July, contributing to the rapid onset of drought conditions.
Seven water companies—Affinity Water, Anglian Water, Cambridge Water, Southern Water, South East Water, Thames Water, and South West Water—have imposed hosepipe bans affecting approximately 40 percent of the population, roughly 23 million customers. Other companies, including Severn Trent, Essex and Suffolk Water, Wessex Water, and Portsmouth Water, have urged consumers to use water sparingly but have stopped short of initiating bans.
Authorities have highlighted the challenge that water leaks pose, noting that about 20 percent of treated water is lost through leaks — a quantity significantly greater than what a nationwide hosepipe ban could conserve. Water companies have been urged by water minister Emma Hardy to accelerate their efforts to reduce leakage and maintain supply resilience amid the drought.
The drought is having wide-ranging impacts. Rivers across England are running at dangerously low levels: approximately 78 percent are below normal flow, with nearly 17 percent classified as "exceptionally low." This has disrupted migratory fish such as Atlantic salmon, prompting rescue efforts in affected waterways like the Teme, Onny, and Redlake. Farmers face early harvesting and reduced crop yields, with some turning to winter feed due to poor grass growth and reservoirs drying up. The National Farmers’ Union warned that water scarcity threatens food production and called for government support in developing more on-farm water storage and flexible water abstraction licenses.
Fire and rescue services have responded to an increasing number of wildfires—over 700 incidents so far this year in England and Wales, with more than 200 in the past two weeks alone. Fire chiefs have warned that wildfire risk remains elevated and emphasized prevention as the primary defense, especially given the high temperatures and dry conditions making vegetation highly flammable.
Experts point to climate change as a significant factor driving the intensity and frequency of such extreme weather. Analysis indicates that elevated evaporation rates caused by record-breaking heatwaves have depleted moisture from soils, vegetation, and water bodies, exacerbating drought and wildfire risks. The Environment Agency and National Drought Group, which includes representatives from government, meteorological agencies, water providers, and agricultural sectors, continue to monitor the situation while urging the public to conserve water and follow safety precautions.
While some rain is forecast for early August, forecasters caution that it is unlikely to be sufficient or sustained enough to replenish depleted water sources in the affected regions. The Environment Agency noted that reservoir levels, while improved during the wet winter, have now fallen below average for this time of year, further compounding the challenges posed by ongoing dry conditions.