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2026 UK drought crisis

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2026-07-31 09:50 UTC → 2026-07-31 14:34 UTC · added removed

In late July 2026, Wales experienced and much of England entered an acute water shortage flash drought as river levels fell to near‑record lows and grasslands dried out, prompting Natural Resources Wales rainfall dropped to label the conditions an “environmental drought.” The drought followed a broader European heatwave that left the region with only about 5 roughly 7 % of its average July rainfall. A week later, the Environment Agency expanded the outlook to a long‑term average nationwide flash drought, declaring half of England and all of Wales officially dry. July rainfall across the UK averaged just 7 % of normal, with some southern areas receiving – as little low as 1 %. Temperatures topped 35 °C, and a new UK heat record of 38 °C was set. The crisis triggered orange heat‑health alerts, hose‑pipe bans for more than 20 million people, and a surge % in wildfire incidents. By 29 July, the southern England. The Environment Agency detailed the flash drought covering identified seven English regions – East (East Anglia, Hertfordshire and London, the Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, the West Midlands and Wessex – affecting roughly Wessex) covering about half of England. England, while Natural Resources Wales declared the whole of Wales to be in drought. Around 23 million people were placed under temporary hosepipe bans, hose‑pipe bans and more than 700 wildfire incidents had been were reported in across England and Wales. Government ministers Temperatures repeatedly exceeded 35 °C, with a new UK heat record of 38 °C recorded in Norfolk. The government announced funding for nine new reservoirs to boost improve water‑system resilience, with and Water Minister Emma Hardy warning warned that such droughts are becoming increasingly common because of due to climate change. Water utilities, the The National Farmers Union and the Rivers Trust called for on‑farm water storage, storage and broader land‑use reforms and restored floodplains reforms. By the end of July, the month was on track to protect agriculture be the driest on record, with rainfall totals of about 5.6 mm in England and ecosystems over 7.9 mm in Wales – roughly 8 % of average. Heat‑related deaths in England were estimated at 2,877 for May‑June, the longer term. highest since records began, and a major wildfire incident erupted in Suffolk.

Versions

  1. 2026-07-31 14:34 UTC 2026 UK drought crisis
  2. 2026-07-31 09:50 UTC 2026 UK drought crisis
  3. 2026-07-31 07:28 UTC 2026 UK drought crisis

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