England Hit by Drought and Flood at the Same Time

On 27 August 2026, 71.3% of England was in drought while 40 flood alerts covered the Midlands, Yorkshire, and the south-east. Hard, dry soil cannot absorb sudden rain, so water runs off — causing floods even during drought. Agency chief Philip Duffy made the point directly. Dozens of homes were damaged; the Met Office warned of up to 75mm of rain in 12 hours.