The Environment Agency declared drought across more than half of England on Wednesday, with seven regions affected as the country endures its driest July on record and a fourth heatwave of the summer. The designated areas are East Anglia, Hertfordshire and London, Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, West Midlands, and Wessex. July rainfall reached just 7% of the expected level across England, falling to 1% in the south, and some parts of Devon have gone 50 consecutive days without rain.
More than 20 million people — 40% of England's population — are under hosepipe bans imposed by seven water companies. Reservoir storage sits 7.4% below average, with Wimbleball and Blagdon exceptionally low, and 78% of rivers are below normal or lower. Temperatures forecast to reach 35°C on Wednesday are set to compound pressure on supplies.
The declaration marks a flash drought and England's third drought in five years, following events in 2022 and 2025. A new June temperature record of 38°C was verified at Lingwood, Norfolk, on 26 June.