london —
England is famous for its rainy days, but a “very severe” drought has hit half of the country after successive heatwaves have dried land, shriveled rivers and put huge pressure on water supplies.
The Environment Agency said on Wednesday that large areas of central, eastern and southern England were experiencing a “flash drought” brought on by a combination of high temperatures and little rainfall.
In addition to the continuing heatwave, the country is also suffering from a lack of rain. Precipitation is only 7% of the average for this time of year, with some areas in the south receiving up to 1%. And there is no serious rain forecast.
“Hot, dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it,” said Helen Wakeham, director of water at the Environment Agency. This is an “extremely serious situation and will have long-term impacts on our environment, wildlife and economy,” she added.
Millions of people have been banned from using their hoses, and dry yellow grass has replaced lush fields, increasing the risk of wildfires.
River levels were alarmingly low, 78% below normal levels. Parts of the River Thames are experiencing record low water temperatures, while algae growth in other waterways is increasing as temperatures rise.
Farmers and experts have warned of negative impacts on food production. Associate Professor Pauline Scherbeek, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: “Droughts can have direct knock-on effects on food supplies.”
“Repeated disruptions to vegetable production may reduce the availability of healthy foods in households, potentially having a lasting impact on public health,” Scherbeek added.
England has experienced three droughts in the past five years, in 2022 and 2025, as well as in 2026.
But while the country is famous for its dark skies and constant rain, it also has to deal with very wet weather.
Last winter was England’s eighth wettest on record, with rainfall 42% higher than the long-term average for the season.
Then a dramatic change occurred, and extreme heat arrived. Scientists have found that last month was the hottest June on record in the UK, sweltering in a heatwave that would be virtually impossible without climate change.
On Wednesday, the Met Office confirmed a new June daily temperature record for England of 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit), beating the previous record of 37.7 degrees Celsius (99.86 degrees Fahrenheit).
Scientists say swings between extreme wet and dry conditions are becoming more frequent and intense, often referred to as “climate whiplash.” Jamie Hannaford, head of water resources and drought at the UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology, said this was “an indication of what we expect from a warming world”.
It can also increase the risk of wildfires, as vegetation that proliferates during wet winters turns into drier conditions once the rain stops and the heat arrives.
As human-induced climate change increases the frequency of extreme weather events, experts say governments need to do more to protect people, communities and the environment from disasters.
“Water security in the UK requires long-term planning,” said Chloe Brimicombe, a climate scientist at the University of Oxford. This means “investing in water infrastructure to retain as much water as possible,” she added.
England is currently experiencing its fourth heatwave of the year. And, like other countries, extreme weather events are causing deaths.
The UK Health and Safety Agency (UKHSA) announced on Thursday that there were 2,877 heat-related deaths in the UK this year, during two notable periods of extreme heat in May and June. This is almost double the number reported for all of 2025.
Meanwhile, a major incident was declared on the country’s south-east Suffolk coast after a large bushfire broke out on Wednesday night local time.
Dozens of firefighters are battling the blaze, which is less than eight miles from the Sizewell B nuclear power plant.
There is little sign of easing, at least in the short term. Will Lang, the Bureau of Meteorology’s chief meteorologist, said: “There is currently little sign of the widespread, sustained rainfall needed to make a big difference to the areas most affected by the dry weather.”
