Large areas of England have been placed under drought status following weeks of extreme heat and insufficient rainfall, according to the Environment Agency (EA).
The agency announced on Wednesday that several regions across central, eastern and southern England were experiencing drought conditions, including East Anglia, Hertfordshire, London, the Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, the West Midlands, and Wessex, which covers Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and parts of south Gloucestershire.
The Environment Agency said the prolonged dry spell and rising temperatures had increased the threat of wildfires, disrupted farming activities, affected agricultural water supplies, and impacted migratory fish populations. It added that millions of residents were already facing restrictions on water usage.
Some areas of Devon have reportedly experienced up to 50 consecutive days without rainfall, while parts of Hampshire recorded 49 straight dry days.
The agency noted that 78 per cent of England’s rivers are currently showing below-normal water levels or worse, raising concerns over declining water availability.
“So far this year, 110 wildfires have occurred at sites of special scientific interest, including incidents at Dovestone and Tintwistle in the Peak District,” the agency stated.
The declaration comes as England enters its fourth heatwave of the year, with amber weather alerts issued for the East Midlands, East of England, London and the South East.
To address the situation, the agency revealed that seven water companies had introduced temporary restrictions on water usage, affecting about 23 million people. It also disclosed that low river levels had led to 1,506 restrictions on water abstraction licences.
The Environment Agency said it had strengthened its drought response by closely monitoring water extraction from rivers and underground sources.
Helen Wakeham, the agency’s Water Director and chair of the National Drought Group, warned that water consumption had exceeded nature’s ability to restore supplies due to the ongoing hot and dry conditions.
Water Minister Emma Hardy also called for improved drought preparedness, noting that such conditions were becoming more frequent.
Speaking at a drought briefing, Hardy said England had experienced three drought periods within five years — in 2022, 2025 and 2026.
She explained that the country moved from an unusually wet winter that restored reservoirs and groundwater supplies to an extremely hot and dry summer that had rapidly reduced stored water levels.
According to the minister, rainfall in July was only seven per cent of the expected average, dropping to one per cent in southern England, with no major rainfall expected in the near future.
Hardy said the government was investing in long-term water security projects, including the construction of nine new reservoirs. She also urged water companies to implement drought plans, tackle leakages and ensure continued water supply during the dry season.