Almost three-quarters of England in drought as conditions worsen in dry August
Officials say 45 million people now live in drought areas as water restrictions spread and reservoir levels fall across England.
- On Monday, the National Drought Group declared 71% of England is now in drought, with the East Midlands, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Kent, East Sussex, Solent, and the South Downs moving into new drought status.
- The National Drought Group described the situation as a 'flash drought' that 'develops very quickly' due to a combination of very low rainfall and higher temperatures, marking the third drought in five years.
- A total of 45 million people now live in drought areas, with more than 27 million facing water use restrictions; NFU president Tom Bradshaw warned livestock farmers have already used their winter feed rations.
- The Health Security Agency issued amber heat alerts for England from Tuesday until Friday, while National Drought Group chair Tony Grayling urged residents to 'use a little less water' to preserve reserves.
- Climate Change Committee chief executive Emma Pinchbeck warned the nation is 'not prepared at all' for prolonged dry weather, as a strong El Niño event is expected to 'dominate global climate patterns' in coming months.
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103 Articles
UK Extreme Heat Warning Deepens Water Crisis as Southern Water Seeks Business Use Ban
England's drought is worsening as another spell of extreme heat arrives, with the Met Office issuing an amber warning for Thursday as temperatures are expected to reach 37C or 38C in parts of eastern and south-east England and the Midlands. Southern Water has applied for a non-essential use drought order while a hosepipe ban remains in force across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Defra is considering the application alongside a separate River T…
The entire Department of the English Channel was placed on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at the "crisis" level for drought.
Milk supply being impacted as Yorkshire braces for another heatwave
Milk, fruit, vegetable and grain supply are all likely to be significantly impacted by the ongoing drought, experts warned yesterday, as the country prepares to go into its fifth heatwave of an already record-breaking summer.
Currently, a total of 45 million people live in drought-affected areas in England, and more than 27 million face water restrictions.
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