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Over two-thirds of England has officially entered drought status after the country recorded its driest July since national records began in 1836.
Four additional regions were moved into drought status on Monday: the East Midlands; Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, in central England; Kent and East Sussex, in the southeast; and Solent and the South Downs, along the south coast. They join roughly half of England, along with all of Wales, already under drought conditions.
The decision was made by the National Drought Group, a body that brings together regulators, government officials, water companies, and agricultural organizations.
“Along with the areas announced last week, most of the country (71.3%) is now experiencing a flash drought—which develops very quickly, brought about by a combination of very low rainfall and higher temperatures,” the group said.
About 45 million people are now living in drought-affected areas of England, with more than 27 million facing water use restrictions, it noted.
Tony Grayling, chair of the National Drought Group, said drought conditions are worsening and will continue to do so until significant, sustained rainfall arrives, adding that the hot, dry weather is taking a toll on farming and will have long-lasting environmental impacts.
Water Minister Emma Hardy, who attended Monday's meeting, said the summer has been especially challenging for farmers affected by climate change and a rising number of floods and droughts.
She said the government is working to make it easier for farmers to build on-site irrigation reservoirs, alongside longer-term efforts to reduce leaks in the water industry and deliver nine new reservoirs and water transfer schemes.
Heat health alerts have been upgraded across England ahead of a week of high temperatures, with highs of up to 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 degrees Fahrenheit) forecast in the southeast on Thursday.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said last month that Britain recorded 2,877 excess deaths during the May and June heat waves, nearly double the 1,504 excess deaths recorded over the same period in 2025.
A drought was declared for Wales as a whole on July 30 amid deteriorating conditions caused by sustained high temperatures, following a drought declaration across half of England in July after record-low rainfall and prolonged heat.
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