England drought declared as half the nation faces water crisis
The United Kingdom government has declared a drought across more than half of England, following record-low rainfall and exceptionally high temperatures, the Environment Agency announced on Wednesday.
This July is set to be the driest on record, with the nation receiving only 7% of expected rainfall. Some parts of southern England have seen as little as 1% of the usual precipitation, according to the agency.
The United Kingdom is currently experiencing its fourth widespread heatwave of 2026. The phenomenon has been described as a “flash drought,” which develops rapidly due to a combination of very low rainfall and higher temperatures. This marks the second consecutive summer that parts of England are experiencing drought conditions.
“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 Environment Agency said in a statement.
The seven areas declared in drought — including London, East Anglia, all of southwest England, and the West Midlands — comprise 51.4% of England's land area.
On Tuesday, representatives from the National Drought Group, which includes meteorological and government officials, ministers, regulators, water companies, and farmers, met to discuss the situation. The Environment Agency noted that they reviewed impacts, preparedness plans, and drought response actions. Private water companies have been instructed to prioritise fixing leaks.
“The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it,” said Helen Wakeham, director of water at the Environment Agency and chair of the group. “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 on Wednesday, the Met Office, the United Kingdom's meteorological agency, announced finalised readings for June, confirming a daily temperature record of 38°C for both England and the United Kingdom. This is higher than the 37.7°C figure previously reported.
