On Wednesday, the UK Environment Agency officially declared drought across 51.4 percent of England, encompassing London, East Anglia, the entire southwest, and the West Midlands. The announcement follows what is expected to be the driest July on record, with the country receiving only about seven percent of its average rainfall — and parts of southern England seeing as little as one percent.
The UK is currently enduring its fourth widespread heatwave of 2026, compounding the effects of a “flash drought” that develops rapidly due to a combination of very low precipitation and exceptionally high temperatures. This marks the second consecutive summer that parts of England have experienced 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 stated in its declaration.
Water use outpaces natural replenishment
The National Drought Group — comprising government and meteorological officials, ministers, regulators, water companies, and farming representatives — met on Tuesday to assess the situation. They reviewed the impacts, preparedness measures, and response strategies, and instructed private water firms to prioritise leak repairs.
“The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it,” said Helen Wakeham, the group’s chair and director of water at the Environment Agency. “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.”
The Met Office, the UK’s national meteorological service, confirmed on Wednesday that June had set a new daily temperature record of 38°C for both England and the UK, surpassing the previously reported 37.7°C. This extreme heat is part of a broader European trend: according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Service, Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent, heating at more than twice the global average. Last month, Western Europe recorded its hottest temperatures, with extreme heat and widespread dryness fuelling fires in France and Spain.
The drought declaration underscores the growing pressure on water resources across the continent. Recent research has highlighted that heat, not rainfall shortage, now drives Europe's droughts, a shift that complicates traditional water management approaches. In Portugal, environmentalists are already demanding climate shelters as heatwaves intensify, reflecting a continent-wide need for adaptation.
The UK’s drought status affects millions of people living under water-use restrictions, while farmers face early harvests and reduced yields. The Environment Agency warned that the situation will have long-lasting consequences for wildlife and the economy, as rivers continue to run low and wildfire risks remain elevated.
As Europe grapples with the accelerating impacts of climate change, the UK’s experience serves as a stark reminder that even temperate maritime nations are not immune to the continent’s warming trend. The coming weeks will be critical as authorities monitor water levels and implement further measures to mitigate the effects of this unprecedented dry spell.
