Half of England in drought, Environment Agency says

Half of England in drought, Environment Agency says

The Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs declared on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, that more than half of England is officially in drought. Seven regions, spanning large portions of southern, eastern, and central England, have reached drought status following a period of soaring temperatures and exceptionally low rainfall.

The current crisis is characterized as a flash drought by the Environment Agency, describing a scenario where drought conditions emerge suddenly rather than over several years. This rapid shift follows a wet January and February that had initially replenished groundwater and reservoirs. This volatility is referred to as climate whiplash.

The impact of the dry spell has been severe. In England, July saw only 7% of average rainfall levels, a figure that plummeted to 1% across southern England. Some areas of Hampshire and Devon have seen no measurable rain for more than a month, with some parts of Devon recording 50 days without rainfall.

Environmental and Infrastructure Impact

Water reserves in rivers, vegetation, and soils have been depleted by the combination of low rainfall and high evaporation from prolonged heat. Current data indicates that 78% of England's rivers are below average or normal for this time of year, and one in six is classed as exceptionally low.

National reservoir storage has fallen to 75.3%, which is approximately 7.4% below the seasonal average. In the South West, specific reservoir levels include:

The Environment Agency is responding by increasing monitoring of groundwater and rivers and restricting water abstraction. More than 20 million people are currently under hosepipe bans. In other parts of the UK, North Wales and the Upper Severn river basin entered drought conditions last week. In Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency reports that some areas of the east are experiencing significant scarcity.

Economic and Safety Warnings

The drought has led to early harvests and increased risks of wildfires. The National Fire Chiefs Council warned that wildfire risk remains elevated across the UK, noting more than 200 wildfire incidents in England and Wales over the last two weeks.

Paul Tompkins, deputy president of the National Farmers' Union of England and Wales, stated that extreme conditions are making it harder, riskier and more costly to produce the nation's food, asserting that the issue affects national food security.

The weather has also reached record levels. The Met Office updated the June 26, 2026, temperature record in Lingwood, Norfolk, from 37.7C to 38.0C, surpassing the previous June high of 35.6C.

Government and Expert Response

Water Minister Emma Hardy suggested that droughts are becoming the new normal due to climate change. She noted that the government is driving investments in infrastructure, including nine new reservoirs, and expects water companies to accelerate leak reductions.

"The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it. 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."

Helen Wakeham, director of water at the Environment Agency and chair of the National Drought Group, via aol.com

The government is urging citizens to save water by taking shorter showers, fixing leaking toilets, and using bowls to wash vegetables. According to the Water Services Regulation Authority, a running tap can use up to nine litres of water per minute, while a five-minute shower uses about 40 litres.

Looking ahead, the Met Office warned that while early August may bring some unsettled weather and occasional rain, there is no current sign of the sustained, widespread rainfall required to significantly alleviate the dry conditions.