LONDON, Aug. 10 — Nearly three-quarters of England is now in drought following the driest July in 190 years, the National Drought Group (NDG) warned on Monday, as a new heatwave threatens to worsen conditions that have already placed 45 million people under drought status and triggered water-use restrictions for more than 27 million.
Drought Expansion The East Midlands, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Kent, East Sussex, Solent, and the South Downs were the latest regions upgraded to official drought status on Monday, bringing the total to 71.3 percent of England’s territory classified as experiencing “flash drought” — a rapid-onset dry condition driven by exceptionally low rainfall combined with elevated temperatures. The northeastern England and Yorkshire-Humber regions were placed on drought pre-alert, signaling potential further expansion.
Precipitation Deficit The rainfall statistics are stark: August rainfall so far has amounted to just 5 percent of the expected seasonal average, while July reservoir levels dropped 16 percent — the steepest July decline in at least 30 years. Only 14 percent of England’s rivers are flowing at normal levels, with 22 percent registering “exceptionally low” volumes. Eight water companies have implemented temporary use restrictions across their service areas, affecting household and commercial consumers alike.
Sectoral Impacts Agriculture is bearing the brunt of the crisis. Tony Grayling, Strategic Drought Lead at the Environment Agency and Chair of the National Drought Group, said the hot and dry conditions were taking “a real toll on farming” with long-lasting environmental consequences anticipated. Water Minister Emma Hardy acknowledged that farmers were “at the sharp end of climate change” and said the government was actively considering additional support measures for the agricultural sector. Navigation on some canals has been restricted due to low water levels, and wildfire risk across grasslands and heathlands remains elevated.
Outlook The Met Office’s environment chief Sarah Davis indicated that dry weather patterns are expected to persist through August and into September, with no clear signal of significant sustained rainfall on the horizon. Grayling emphasized that drought conditions would continue worsening until “significant and sustained rainfall” arrives. The government has accelerated drought-response measures and announced plans to streamline approval processes for water infrastructure projects aimed at building longer-term resilience.
Climate Context Officials explicitly linked the current crisis to broader climate change trends, noting that England has experienced increasing frequency of both flooding and drought episodes in recent decades. The Environment Agency issued a public appeal for voluntary water conservation to extend available supplies until autumn rains potentially arrive.