Research and analysis

Dry weather and drought in England: 17 to 23 July 2026

Updated 24 July 2026

Applies to England

1. Summary

There has been minimal rainfall across England in this latest week, with only 3% of the long term average (LTA) rainfall received for the month. Temperatures have been above average in most areas and demand for water remains high. River flows have decreased with 84% classified as below normal or lower. Reservoir storage has also fallen further to 75.3% for England, around 7.4% below the LTA for the time of year. Soil moisture deficits (SMD) are at record levels across the north-east, central, south-east and south-west England for this time in July.

This week has seen further introduction of temporary use bans (TUBs). Overall, almost 40% of England’s population are now facing water use restrictions. The new introductions include:

• South East Water’s remaining customers in Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire (will come into force on Saturday 25 July)
• Thames Water, company-wide on 23 July

This follows the existing TUBs put in place by South East Water in Kent on 3 July, Southern Water in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight on 10 July, Anglian Water on 11 July, South West Water on 14 July for a small area in parts of Devon and Dorset, Affinity Water for its central region on 17 July and Cambridge Water on 17 July. These are predominantly in response to high demands. For Southern Water and South West Water, it follows resilience risks.

The Environment Agency received a drought permit application from South West Water on 20 July and are reviewing this. There remains potential for Southern Water to apply for a River Test drought order this month.

Prolonged dry weather is creating significant challenges for agriculture, with early cereal harvesting, reduced crop yields, increased field fires, and livestock farmers using winter forage reserves sooner than usual. Low river flows have led to 1,353 abstraction licence restrictions, while irrigation demand remains high. Concerns are growing over water resilience and feed availability later this year, with further voluntary or formal water restrictions likely if dry conditions continue.

We continue to see new environmental incidents steadily increasing, such as those with distressed or dead fish due to dry weather and drought. Wildfires continue to be seen around the country. The Environment Agency is increasing its drought response activities and actively coordinating preparedness. The National Drought Group met on 20 July and will continue to meet monthly through the summer.

2. Area drought status

Six areas have changed drought status this week. Hertfordshire and North London, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Wessex, West Midlands, Thames and London, and parts of Kent and South London have moved to prolonged dry weather. The remaining catchments across East Anglia have also moved to prolonged dry weather.

Figure 1 – Environment Agency Drought Status 

2.1 Areas in drought

No areas are in drought.

2.2 Areas in prolonged dry weather

The following areas are in prolonged dry weather:

• Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
• East Anglia
• Hertfordshire and North London
• Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire
• Wessex
• West Midlands
• Thames and London
• parts of Kent and South London
• Solent and South Downs

All other areas are in normal status, but the Environment Agency continues to monitor impacts across the country.

2.3 How the stages of drought response work

Each area is reviewing its status depending on the triggers they have outlined in their drought plan.

More detail of how we manage drought, including our 4 stages of drought response, is available in Drought: how it is managed in England.

3. Current water situation

The prolonged dry spell has continued with less than 1mm of rainfall recorded across the country in the week ending 21 July. Overall, across England, the rainfall received in the month until 21 July, remains at 3% of the LTA for July.

With the extended heatwave conditions continuing into this week, soils have dried rapidly. SMDs have now reached record levels across the north-east, central, south-east and south-west England for this time in July.

River flows have continued to decrease at most indicator sites this week with only one-sixth of sites being classed as normal for the time of year. The vast majority of sites are below normal or lower. There are notable low rivers throughout the country with exceptionally low rivers across parts of the north-east, east and southern England.

Groundwater levels continue their seasonal recession with levels in the Oolitic limestones of the Cotswolds notably low for the time of year. Across the chalk, levels are currently normal or below normal for the time of year across parts of the Yorkshire Wolds, the North, the South and the Wessex Downs.

High demand associated with the protracted heatwave has seen reservoir storage fall throughout England. Storage across England for the week ending 21 July fell 3.5% to 75.3% and is now 7.4% below the LTA for the time of year but remains above storage levels seen in July 2022 and July 2025. Storage ranges from 10.3% below the LTA across south-west England to 5% below the LTA across north-west England. The greatest weekly falls in storage, of over 6%, were at Clywedog at the top of the Severn catchment and Clatworthy near Exmoor.

Almost half of reservoirs are classed as below normal, 6 are notably low and 2 – Blagdon, operated by Bristol Water, and Wimbleball, operated by South West Water, are now classed as exceptionally low for the time of year (Figure 2). 

More details are available in our water situation reports for England.

Figure 2 –Reservoir stocks at key individual and groups of reservoirs for week ending 21 July 2026 as a percentage of total capacity and classed relative to an analysis of historic July values.

Note: Classes shown may not necessarily relate to control curves or triggers for drought actions. As well as for public water supply, some reservoirs are drawn down to provide flood storage, river compensation flows or for reservoir safety inspections. In some cases, current reservoir operating rules may differ from historic ones.

(Source: water companies). Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Environment Agency, AC0000807064, 2026

4. Public water supply

Above average temperatures and a lack of rainfall continued this week. This has led to many water companies continuing to experience significant demands for water.   

Some parts of the country have received lower than average rainfall this spring, which with record spring temperatures, has resulted in a greater than normal reduction in reservoir and groundwater storage and river flows for several water companies.

Water companies report their drought response using operational drought levels, from drought level 1 escalating to level 4. We expect water companies to follow their drought plans and act early to ensure there are sufficient supplies.  

We are regularly engaging with all water companies. The companies not included in this section are in business as usual (BAU). 

4.1 Affinity Water

The company remains in BAU, and is at its environmental trigger in its East region. A TUB remains in place for customers in its central region.

4.2 Anglian Water

The company remains in drought level 2 in its Fenland and Norfolk, Norwich and in its Broads water resource zones (WRZs), with its other zones in BAU. TUBs remain in place across the whole region, except for Hartlepool.

4.3 Cambridge Water

Cambridge Water remains in drought level 1. TUBs remain in place for all its customers. The company continue to undertake demand saving measures across the region.

4.4 Essex and Suffolk Water

Essex and Suffolk Water remains at drought level 1 in all WRZs. This is due to low river flows and increased water demand driven by the hot weather.

4.5 Severn Trent Water

Severn Trent Water remains at drought level 1 in its North Staffs WRZ. Reservoir storage at Tittesworth reservoir has declined from last week.

4.6 Southern Water

Southern Water remains at drought level 1 in its Hampshire and Isle of Wight WRZs. TUBs are still in force for customers in the Hampshire and the Isle of Wight area.

4.7 South East Water

The Eastbourne and Haywards Heath WRZs have moved into drought level 2. Its other WRZs have all moved into drought level 1. The company has advertised a TUB for its Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire customers, restrictions will be in force from Saturday 25 July. A TUB remains in place for customers in Kent. Reservoir storage at Arlington and Ardingly reservoirs has declined from last week.

4.8 South West Water

TUBS remain in place for customers in an area in Devon and Dorset supplied by a specific water treatment works that is experiencing demand pressures at risk of exceeding the ability to produce water. Overall demand remains high. The company applied for a drought permit on the 20 July. 

4.9 South Staffs Water

South Staffs Water remains in drought level 1. Reservoir storage at Blithfield reservoir has declined from last week.

4.10 Thames Water

Thames Water is now at drought level 1 in all its WRZs. The company announced a TUB on the 21 July, for all its customers, restrictions came into force on Thursday 23 July.

4.11 United Utilities

United Utilities remains at enhanced monitoring and operations (EMO) for its Haweswater and Carlisle WRZs. Several large wildfires are burning in Greater Manchester, Derbyshire and Cheshire. Water used to tackle these fires is adding to demand on the company’s system.

4.12 Wessex Water.

Wessex Water remains at drought level 1.

4.13 Yorkshire Water

Yorkshire Water remains at drought level 1 in its Grid WRZ. Reservoir storage continues to decline.

5. Agriculture

The prolonged dry conditions are causing significant impacts and pressures across the agriculture sector. Farmers are harvesting crops early in the season and it is likely that there will be poorer yields with some crops such as cereals, due to the dry conditions and high temperatures experienced this year. Farmers are also reporting an increase in fires occurring during harvesting as the ground is so dry. Livestock farmers have already begun using their winter forage reserves because the dry weather has impacted on grass growth. This is causing some concerns about forage availability later in the year, as stocks may be depleted earlier than usual.

With many river flows below normal for the time of the year, hands off flow restrictions on abstraction licences continue to increase. There are currently 1353 hands off flow restrictions in force to safeguard water supplies for the environment. High demands on farm reservoirs are continuing for irrigation and there are increasing concerns on water resilience for the rest of the year, should there be a continuation of the dry weather. Voluntary licence restrictions may be required in some parts of the country if the dry weather continues into August. We continue to work closely with abstractors and partners regarding the implementation of any formal restrictions.

6. Navigation

The overall water resources position for the Canal and River Trust is generally good for the time of year. Most of the canal network remains open but there are increasing numbers of localised impacts due to recent heatwaves and dry conditions. There have been decreases in some of the Canal and River Trust supply reservoirs due to reduced rainfall and increased demands on the network.

7. Environment

Confirmed incidents caused by drought and dry weather have been steadily rising, with a total of 61 incidents recorded since the start of 2026.  The total for 2026 (61) is still lower than at this time in 2025 (157). However, the overall number of estimated and confirmed incidents with dead fish has rapidly increased. There have been 13 confirmed algae and 6 dead fish incidents that have been attributed to drought and dry weather since the start of 2026. It is likely those attributed to drought and dry weather that are underestimated.

Relatively high numbers of drought and dry weather incidents have been reported in Greater Manchester and Kent and South London. Higher river temperatures are being reported affecting several fisheries. There has been an increasing number of fish, ecological and extensive algal bloom incidents in East Anglia, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire. Poor water quality caused by low flow has been identified in several areas. Regular fish rescues continue in Teme and Redlake catchments in Shropshire in the West Midlands.

The dry, hot weather has also led to wildfires breaking out at various places around the country. The Environment Agency is working with the relevant authorities to support as required. 

8. Weather forecast

Friday is forecast to be dry and very warm, particularly in the south, but as the weekend progresses showery rain will spread south-eastwards and temperatures slightly cooler than late. From Monday, conditions are expected to be changeable with a mixture of rain and sunny spells across the country.

9. Drought readiness actions

The Environment Agency is well prepared, is actively coordinating across government and sectors, and is acting on lessons from 2022 and 2025. Local Environment Agency staff are actively responding to dry weather-related incidents. The National Drought Group was reconvened on 20 July to monitor risks, preparation and impacts. It will meet monthly through the summer. The next meeting is on 18 August.

10. Contact us

Contact drought.national@environment-agency.gov.uk if you have questions about this report.