Rain Is Coming, but England's Drought Won't Go Away

The Met Office says heavy rain will hit the UK from 18 August 2026, but it won't end the drought gripping over 71% of England. When rain falls on hard, dry ground, it washes away instead of sinking in — like water on a driveway. That means floods, not refilled reservoirs. Five major reservoirs are "exceptionally low," needing weeks of gentle rain to recover.