More than half of England in official drought, Environment Agency says

More than half of England is officially in drought, with seven regions declared in drought conditions, according to the Environment Agency. The affected regions include East Anglia, Hertfordshire and London, Thames Valley, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, West Midlands, and Wessex. [claim:1, claim:2]

This is the second consecutive summer drought in England. [claim:13] The drought developed quickly due to high temperatures and unusually low rainfall, a phenomenon described as a 'flash drought'. [claim:12]

In July, England received 7% of expected rainfall, while southern England received 1%. [claim:3] July is set to be the driest on record for England. [claim:4]

The Environment Agency reported that the dry weather has led to low river flows, early harvests, and a high risk of wildfires. [claim:6] Millions of people in England are already under hosepipe bans. [claim:5]

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) stated that emergency services in England and Wales have responded to 706 wildfires in 2026, with 208 incidents occurring between July 16 and July 28. [claim:17] The Met Office warned that fires could become 'exceptionally severe' in parts of London, the South East, and eastern England due to the conditions. [claim:16]

Heatwave alerts and regional scarcity

The fourth heatwave of the year is expected to peak on Wednesday, with temperatures forecast to reach up to 35°C (95°F). [claim:14] The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber heat-health alert for the East Midlands, East of England, South East, and London, effective until Thursday. [claim:15]

In North Wales and the Upper Severn river basin, drought conditions were entered last week, according to Natural Resources Wales. [claim:10] While Scotland does not declare drought, it monitors water scarcity, with parts of eastern Scotland currently in the 'significant scarcity' category. [claim:11]

The current dry conditions follow last summer's drought, and the UK is facing more extreme weather caused by human-caused climate change. [claim:18]