UK authorities on Wednesday declared more than half of England in drought after “record-low rain and exceptionally high temperatures”.
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The declaration follows what is set to be the driest July on record, with around just seven percent of expected rainfall nationwide and some parts of southern England seeing just one percent, according to the UK government’s Environment Agency.
The UK is also currently experiencing its fourth widespread heatwave of 2026.
Describing it as a “flash drought” — which develops quickly and is caused by a combination of very low rainfall and higher temperatures — it was the second consecutive summer parts of England were 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.
The seven areas declared in drought — which include London, East Anglia to its northeast, all of southwest England and the West Midlands — comprises 51.4 percent of the nation.
The Environment Agency reported that representatives of the National Drought Group, which consists of government and meteorological officials, ministers, regulators, water corporations, farmers, and others, met on Tuesday to talk about the situation.
‘We are using water faster than nature can replenish it’
They examined the effects, preparations for preparation, and drought response measures in England and instructed the country’s private water firms to give leak repairs top priority.
“The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it,” the group’s chair and director of water, Helen Wakeham, stated 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,” Wakeham added.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Met Office, the nation’s meteorological agency, announced it had finalised readings in June and that both England and the UK saw a daily temperature record of 38°C for the month.
That was higher than the 37.7C figure previously reported.
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 contributing to the spread and intensification of fires in France and Spain, Copernicus said.
Additional sources • AFP
