Drought declared in half of England's territory following heatwave

The UK Environment Agency announced on Wednesday that a drought situation has been declared across half of England due to low rainfall rates and hot, dry weather.

In a statement, the agency noted that large areas of central, eastern, and southern England are currently experiencing a sudden and rapidly developing drought wave, driven by reduced rainfall and rising temperatures.

It added that river water levels have dropped, forcing farmers to harvest crops early, while the risk of wildfires has increased and millions of residents are subject to water use restrictions.

The agency confirmed it has intensified its operational response, including strengthening monitoring and control measures over water abstraction from rivers and groundwater.

Wickham emphasized that a second consecutive summer drought represents an extremely serious situation with long-term repercussions for the environment, wildlife, and the economy.

Earlier, on Monday, the UK Health Security Agency raised the health alert level for heat in parts of England to the “orange” level, coinciding with rising temperatures between July 28 and 30.

The current drought means that England has experienced three drought episodes over the past five years, in 2022, 2025, and now in 2026.