Drought declared for more than half of England
Drought declared for more than half of England and parts of Wales after record heat and low rainfall, with hosepipe bans affecting millions.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The Environment Agency has declared drought for seven regions covering more than half of England, following record low rainfall and high temperatures. The move comes after Wales became the first part of the UK to declare drought, with river levels in north and mid-Wales at record lows. The National Drought Group, which coordinates England's response, said the recent lack of rain was putting increasing pressure on water suppliers.
England has received just 4.4mm of rain so far in July, about 7% of the expected total, with southern England receiving just 1%. The dry spell is the longest since the 1990s, with parts of Surrey going 33 consecutive days without rain. Seven water companies in England and one in Wales have introduced or are about to introduce hosepipe bans, affecting around 23 million customers. Thames Water, the UK's largest supplier, became the eighth company to announce a ban, affecting 16 million customers from Thursday.
The drought is having a severe impact on agriculture. The National Farmers Union says farming is on a knife edge, with crops failing and livestock suffering. Farmers report that grass growth has stopped, forcing them to use winter feed. Yields are down by a third in some areas, and the cost of feeding cows has risen by £500 a day on some farms. The Environment Agency warns that water is being used faster than nature can replace it, and is urging the public to conserve water.
The dry conditions have also led to wildfires, with a major incident declared in Suffolk after a large fire broke out on heathland. Across Europe, heatwaves and wildfires are causing devastation, with thousands evacuated in France and Spain. Climate scientists say the extreme heat is creating "atmospheric thirst", drawing moisture from the soil and making droughts more likely and more severe.
The Environment Agency says this is the third drought in five years, and that the UK needs to invest in new reservoirs and better water management. It warns that without action, the country will face more frequent and severe water shortages in the future.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One | BBC Two | Channel 4 | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parts of England experienced a two-week dry spell, the longest unbroken period without rain since the mid-1990s. | · | · | · | ||||
| Seven regions in England are in official drought conditions. | · | · | · | ||||
| Thames Water customers will face hosepipe restrictions from Thursday. | · | · | · | ||||
| Hosepipe bans are enforceable and restrict watering gardens and washing cars. | · | · | · | · | |||
| The UK has recorded its eighth day this year with temperatures above 34°C, a new record. | · | · | · | · | |||
| An estimated 2,877 heat-associated deaths occurred in England during May and June 2026. | · | · | · | · | · | ||
| Anglian Water introduced a hosepipe ban affecting around five million customers. | · | · | · | · | · | ||
| Crop yields were about a third lower than normal, and a third loss of the wheat crop in southern England and Wales would mean a 350 million pound shortfall in agricultural income. | · | · | · | · | · | ||
| Thames Water's region has experienced significantly below-average rainfall and record high temperatures. | · | · | · | · | · | ||
| The National Farmers Union said agriculture is on a knife-edge. | · | · | · | · | · | ||
| Thousands of people were evacuated in southwest France due to wildfires. | · | · | · | · | · | ||
| A farmer said the last dam built in the Elan Valley was in 1953 and more strategic water storage is needed. | · | · | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Channel 5 focused on the practical impact of the dry spell on households, with detailed weather analysis and explanations of hosepipe bans. It highlighted the record-breaking nature of the heat and the lack of rain, and gave a clear picture of where restrictions apply.
- “It's been more than 14 days or 14 days of no rain. And that is the longest rain-free spell since 1996, I believe.”
- “Hosepipe bands are what the water companies put out. It's a localised issue”
- “What we need to replace the water is the sort of rain that we loathe, Dan, the long, horrible, grey winter rain.”
ITV1 focused on the growing number of hosepipe bans and the official move towards drought status. It reported from a farm in Suffolk to illustrate the impact on agriculture, and explained the science behind the dry spell, including the role of the wet winter.
- “millions of Thames Water customers face a hosepipe ban from this Thursday”
- “We've seen 33 consecutive days in parts of Surrey without a single drop of rain, the longest dry spell since 1995.”
- “Our country is facing a double whammy the longest dry spell since 1995 combined with a 30% increase in water demand during the heat waves.”
BBC ONE West provided comprehensive coverage, including the official drought declaration, the impact on farmers and wildlife, and the situation in Wales. It also examined the underlying causes, including climate change, and the need for better water management.
- “England has only had 3% of its long-term average July rainfall with the south and east getting none at all”
- “Seven water companies in England and one in Wales have now or are about to Introduce hosepipe bans that affects around 23 million customers”
- “Wales has become the first part of the UK to declare a drought after weeks of hot, dry weather left river levels in north and mid-Wales at record lows.”
Channel 4 gave a brief, factual update on the Thames Water hosepipe ban, focusing on the details of the restrictions and the fine for breaking them. It did not explore the wider drought context.
- “Thames Water has become the eighth UK water company to announce that it is bringing in a hosepipe ban.”
- “Customers who break the ban face a maximum fine of up to a thousand pounds.”
BBC TWO's Newsnight focused on the agricultural impact, with an in-depth interview with a Herefordshire farmer. It highlighted the financial losses facing farmers and the need for strategic water storage and management.
- “It's pretty dry, it's very, very dry. I mean, since April, we've had just over half of the normal rainfall.”
- “those yields are about a third down on where they normally should be”
- “if the bottom half of England and Wales lose a third of their wheat crop, for instance, that amounts to about 350 million pounds missing from the agricultural income.”
Sky News conducted an interview with the Environment Agency's director of water, Helen Wakeham, focusing on the official drought declaration and what it means for the public. It highlighted the concept of a 'flash drought' and the need for water conservation.
- “we're calling it a flash drought it's caused by dry and hot weather”
- “every drop that you say from the tap is another drop for your local river or your local lake”
- “this is the third drought in five years that is not normal”
BBC News covered the drought declaration and its impact on agriculture, also linking it to wildfires in Europe. It included an interview with a forest fire expert, but the main focus was on the UK situation.
- “The National Farmers Union says agriculture is on a knife edge after drought was declared in more than half of England along with parts of Wales.”
- “A major incident has been declared in Suffolk after a large wildfire broke out on Heathland.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.