Britain’s Environment Agency declared half of England in drought on Wednesday, after exceptionally low rainfall and prolonged high temperatures depleted rivers and reservoirs.
July has seen just 7% of its long-term average rainfall so far, falling to 1% in parts of southern England. Large areas of central, eastern and southern England are experiencing a rapidly developing “flash drought.”
Seven regions are now officially in drought: London, East Anglia, the Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, the West Midlands, and Wessex.
Some 78% of England’s rivers are below normal levels, and reservoir storage has fallen to 75.3% of capacity. Seven water companies have introduced water-use restrictions affecting about 23 million customers.
The Environment Agency said this marks England’s third drought in five years, following those in 2022 and 2025.
Separately, the Met Office confirmed on Wednesday a new UK and England June temperature record of 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit). The figure exceeds the previously reported provisional reading of 37.7C and is now the highest June temperature recorded in the UK.
The Met Office also confirmed June temperature records for Wales and Northern Ireland, while rejecting some provisional records from stations that did not meet required standards.
(With information from Reuters)
