More than half of England officially in drought, Environment Agency says

The Environment Agency has officially declared a drought across more than half of England. This announcement follows a period of intense heat and lack of rainfall, impacting central, eastern, and southern regions. Large swaths of the country, including London, East Anglia, and the West Midlands, now face stricter oversight on water usage as reservoirs and river levels drop significantly.

Officials point to a phenomenon known as flash drought. While early 2026 was wet, a rapid transition to extreme summer heat dried out vegetation and soil at an accelerated rate. This pattern complicates water management and places immediate strain on the environment. River flows are currently low, which disrupts local wildlife, specifically Atlantic salmon, and increases the potential for wildfires across the landscape.

More than 20 million people in the affected areas are already subject to hosepipe bans as a precautionary measure. Beyond the immediate water restrictions, the agricultural sector reports mounting pressure. Farmers are dealing with more expensive and risky production cycles as high temperatures continue to test the capacity of the current water infrastructure.

Experts note that this is the third major drought event in the past five years. While natural weather cycles play a role, the trend of rising summer temperatures exacerbates these shortages. Long-term projections from the Environment Agency warn that without significant changes to water infrastructure and leakage control, the nation faces a substantial daily water supply deficit by mid-century.