Half of England and All of Wales Declared in Drought Within Two Weeks

Half of England and all of Wales were officially in drought by early August 2026 — up from zero drought areas in England on 17 July. England received just 7% of average July rainfall; southern England 1%. Some 23 million people face hosepipe bans. This is the third drought in five years; the Met Office projects UK summers up to 60% drier by 2070.