Half of England is now in official drought after a record-dry July and successive heatwaves, triggering hosepipe bans for 23 million people, early harvests and rising wildfire risk.

More than half of England has been declared officially in drought after weeks of near-absent rainfall and successive heatwaves rapidly depleted rivers, reservoirs and soil moisture. The Environment Agency announced on 29 July 2026 that seven regions spanning central, eastern and southern England are now in drought status, affecting roughly half the country’s land area and up to 28 million people.

The declaration marks England’s third drought in five years (following 2022 and 2025) and the second consecutive summer of drought conditions, despite a wet winter that had initially replenished supplies. Officials describe the situation as a “flash drought” – one that develops with unusual speed when extreme dryness coincides with intense heat.

Record-Dry July and Rapid Onset

July 2026 is on course to become England’s driest month on record. National rainfall has reached only about 7 per cent of the long-term average so far, plunging to just 1 per cent across southern England. Some locations in Devon have recorded no rain for more than 50 days, while parts of Hampshire have gone without for 49 days. Wisley in Surrey is among the driest spots in Britain after 43 consecutive dry days.

This extreme dryness followed a spring that was already drier than average in many areas and three earlier heatwaves. A fourth heatwave is under way, with temperatures repeatedly climbing into the low-to-mid 30s Celsius. The Met Office has confirmed a new UK and England June temperature record of 38.0 °C. The rapid switch from a wet winter to prolonged heat and drought has been termed “climate whiplash” by meteorologists.

Helen Wakeham, director of water at the Environment Agency and chair of the National Drought Group, said: “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. We want everyone to stay safe and hydrated during the hot weather but every drop we can save is a drop more for nature and agriculture.”

The Seven Regions Now in Drought

The areas formally declared in drought are:

• East Anglia
• Hertfordshire and the whole of London
• Thames Valley
• Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
• Devon and Cornwall
• West Midlands
• Wessex (covering Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and south Gloucestershire)

Around a third of England remains in “prolonged dry weather” status – the stage immediately before drought – including Kent and East Sussex, Cumbria and Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, the East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, and the remainder of Solent and the South Downs. Only Yorkshire and the North East are still classed as normal for the time of year.

In Wales, North Wales and the Upper Severn river basin entered drought last week. Scotland does not use the same drought classification but monitors water scarcity; some eastern areas are already in the most severe “significant scarcity” category.

Rivers, Reservoirs and Wildlife Under Strain

The physical impacts are already visible and measurable. Some 78 per cent of England’s rivers are below normal levels for late July, with about one in six classified as exceptionally low. The River Thames at Reading and the River Cam at Dernford in Cambridgeshire are among those recording their lowest late-July flows on record. Low flows have triggered 1,506 abstraction licence restrictions.

Reservoir storage across England has fallen to 75.3 per cent of capacity – roughly 7.4 percentage points below the long-term average – with almost half of reservoirs now below normal. Soil moisture has also declined sharply, increasing the risk of further deterioration even if modest rain arrives.

Wildlife is feeling the pressure. Atlantic salmon struggle to migrate upstream in reduced flows, and freshwater habitats are deteriorating. The Environment Agency has reported 110 wildfires on Sites of Special Scientific Interest so far this year, including incidents in the Peak District. The National Fire Chiefs Council warns that wildfire risk remains elevated across the UK, with more than 200 wildfire incidents recorded in England and Wales in the past fortnight alone.

Millions Already Under Water Restrictions

Seven water companies have introduced Temporary Use Bans (hosepipe bans) affecting approximately 23 million customers – around 40 per cent of England’s population. The companies involved are Affinity Water, Anglian Water, Cambridge Water, Southern Water, South East Water, Thames Water and South West Water.

Under the bans, hosepipes and sprinklers cannot be used for watering gardens, washing cars or filling paddling pools. Watering cans and buckets remain permitted, and exemptions apply for health, disability, animal welfare and certain food crops. No end date has been set; restrictions will stay until supplies recover and demand falls to sustainable levels.

Farmers Face Early Harvests and Yield Losses

Agriculture is under acute pressure. Cereal harvests have been brought forward, and yields of oilseed rape, potatoes, onions, carrots and other crops are already reduced in the driest regions. Farm storage reservoirs are declining rapidly, raising concerns about irrigation supplies for the remainder of the year.

Paul Tompkins, deputy president of the National Farmers’ Union, said farmers are experiencing “climate change in action. More extreme conditions [are] making it harder, riskier and more costly to produce the nation’s food.” Some growers warn that smaller yields and higher production costs could push food prices higher.

Looking Ahead: Limited Rain and Longer-Term Challenges

The Met Office forecasts occasional unsettled spells in early August that may bring modest rainfall to some areas, but there is little sign of the widespread, sustained rain needed to reverse the drought. Chief meteorologist Will Lang noted that many areas have received very little or no rain throughout July, extending a period of below-average rainfall that began in spring.

Water Minister Emma Hardy has acknowledged that “our climate is changing, droughts are becoming increasingly common, and we need to be prepared for this new normal.” The National Drought Group, which includes the Met Office, government departments, regulators, water companies, farmers and conservation groups, continues to coordinate the response, including enhanced environmental monitoring and tighter controls on water abstraction.

The Environment Agency has stepped up its operational measures and is urging the public to use water wisely. With reservoirs already depleted, rivers running low and a fourth heatwave under way, the flash drought of summer 2026 is testing England’s water resilience more severely than many had anticipated after the wet winter. Officials emphasise that every drop conserved now helps protect both public supplies and the natural environment for the weeks and months ahead.