Environment Agency Declares Drought Across Half of England

The Environment Agency declared a drought across more than half of England on July 29, 2026, affecting seven regions including East Anglia, London and Hertfordshire, the Thames Valley, the West Midlands, and Wessex. This flash drought follows a wet winter—a phenomenon termed climate whiplash—and was triggered by a fourth seasonal heatwave and July rainfall levels that reached only 7% of the national average. The West Midlands region is currently on track to experience its driest July on record.

To protect water supplies for millions of people, officials are implementing hosepipe bans and increasing monitoring of groundwater and river extraction. In the West Midlands, the agency is utilizing the River Severn Regulation system to release reservoir water as river flows drop. These conditions have led to early harvests, elevated wildfire risks, and the need for emergency wildlife rescues, such as relocating fish from the River Teme.

This marks the third drought in five years, following events in 2022 and 2025. While parts of eastern Scotland and North Wales are also facing water scarcity, the Met Office warns that early August forecasts show no sign of the sustained, widespread rainfall required to alleviate the crisis. Water Minister Emma Hardy stated that such droughts are becoming the new normal, prompting record investments in infrastructure, including the construction of nine new reservoirs.