UK government: Over half of England officially in drought

The seven areas declared in drought — which include London, East Anglia to its northeast, all of southwest England and the West Midlands — comprise 51.4% of the nation.

Published: July 29, 2026 06:49 pm IST – London, United Kingdom Source: AFP

Just over half of England has been declared in drought after “record-low rain and exceptionally high temperatures,” the U.K. government said on Wednesday (July 29, 2026).

The declaration follows what is set to be the driest July on record, with just 7% of expected rainfall nationwide and some parts of southern England seeing only 1%, according to the government’s Environment Agency.

The U.K. is also currently experiencing its fourth widespread heatwave of 2026.

‘Flash Drought’ Conditions

Describing the situation as a “flash drought” — which develops quickly and is caused by a combination of very low rainfall and higher temperatures — officials noted this is the second consecutive summer that parts of England are experiencing drought.

“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 agency said as it made the announcement.

Areas Affected

The seven areas declared in drought include:

• London
• East Anglia (to its northeast)
• All of southwest England
• The West Midlands

These areas together comprise 51.4% of the nation.

Government Response

Representatives from the National Drought Group — which includes meteorological and government officials, ministers, regulators, water companies, farmers, and others — convened on Tuesday (July 28, 2026) to discuss the situation, the Environment Agency noted.

They reviewed impacts, preparedness plans, and drought response actions across England. The nation’s private water companies have been told to prioritise fixing leaks.

“The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it,” Helen Wakeham, director of water and chair of the group, said in a statement.

“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.”

Temperature Record

Separately, on Wednesday (July 29, 2026), the Met Office, the nation’s meteorological agency, announced it had finalised readings for June and confirmed that both England and the U.K. saw a daily temperature record for the month of 38°C — higher than the 37.7°C figure previously reported.