London: More than two-thirds of England is now officially in drought after the country recorded its driest July since records began in 1836. The East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Kent and East Sussex, and Solent and the South Downs were moved into drought status on Monday.
According to Anadolu Agency, these regions join around half of England and the whole of Wales, already affected by drought conditions. The decision was made by the National Drought Group, which comprises regulators, government officials, water companies, and agricultural organizations. The group noted that most of the country, specifically 71.3%, is now experiencing a flash drought, a rapid development caused by very low rainfall combined with higher temperatures.
Approximately 45 million people are now living in drought-affected areas of England, with more than 27 million facing water use restrictions. Tony Grayling, chair of the National Drought Group, emphasized that drought conditions are worsening and will persist until significant and sustained rainfall occurs. He acknowledged the toll that the hot and dry weather is taking on farming and the long-lasting impacts on the environment.
Emma Hardy, Water Minister, who attended the National Drought Group meeting on Monday, expressed the challenges faced by farmers, who are directly impacted by climate change and an increasing number of floods and droughts. She highlighted efforts to support farmers, including making it easier to build on-site irrigation reservoirs and implementing long-term changes in the water industry to reduce leaks, secure supplies, and deliver new reservoirs and water transfer schemes.
Heat health alerts have been upgraded across England ahead of a week of soaring temperatures, with forecasts predicting highs of up to 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in the southeast on Thursday. Last month, the UK Health Security Agency reported 2,877 excess deaths during the May and June heat waves, nearly double the 1,504 excess deaths recorded during the summer of 2025.
On July 30, Wales as a whole was declared to be in drought amid deteriorating conditions caused by sustained high temperatures. A drought was also declared last month across half of England following record-low rainfall and prolonged high temperatures.