Half of England and the entirety of Wales are now officially in drought, with July anticipated to be the driest month on record. This situation has developed following four record-breaking heatwaves since May, which have contributed to widespread wildfires and left farmers, wildlife, and protected habitats facing water scarcity.
England received just 7% of its long-term average rainfall for July, with southern England recording only 1%. This has resulted in damage to greenery in parks, protected land, and sports fields, as well as shrinking rivers and lakes. The River Thames at Reading has reached its lowest recorded level.
While water companies do not currently foresee a threat to drinking water supplies due to record winter rainfall keeping reservoirs near expected levels, approximately 23 million people across England and Wales are subject to a hosepipe ban.
Firefighters responded to 393 wildfires across England and Wales in July, marking it as the busiest month on record. This has put significant pressure on crews and resources, with hundreds of people evacuated due to fire threats, compared to around 50 in 2025.
Farmers are harvesting crops earlier or are concerned about losses due to water shortages. Lost archaeological sites, including Roman-era buildings and a 17th-century garden, have also become visible in dried-out areas.