Research and analysis

Dry weather and drought in England: 21 to 27 August 2026

Updated 28 August 2026

Applies to England

1. Summary

Despite recent rainfall and cooler weather, drought conditions continue across much of England. Rainfall remains well below average, with August rainfall to date only 34% of what would normally be expected for the time of year. Heavy rainfall moving across the country has resulted in over 40 flood alerts being issued on 27 August. Flooding can happen during a drought and will often be localised and of a short duration.

There continues to be no change to Environment Agency Area drought status this week, with 71% of England by land classed as being in drought.

Some rivers have responded with the recent rainfall but this will be short-lived if dry weather returns. Most rivers are classed as below normal or lower for the time of year with more than half of river sites classed as either notably low or exceptionally low.  

The decline in reservoir storage for England has slowed, but has still reduced by 2.7% this week, to less than 60% on average. This is well below average for the time of year, by over 18%. Nine major reservoirs are classed as having exceptionally low storage, 2 more than last week. 

Bristol Water announced a temporary use ban (TUB) across its area on 26 August, with effect from 27 August. Approximately 30 million people now have restrictions on their use of water.

Over 1,400 abstraction licence restrictions are currently in place – a small improvement on last week due to some localised increases in river levels in the North and North East. In addition to the abstraction licence restrictions, there are mandatory Section 57 spray irrigation reductions in East Anglia and a growing number of voluntary restrictions across several catchments. Root crop harvesting is expected to be challenging due to exceptionally hard ground conditions.

Environmental impacts are increasing significantly with a further 40 incidents being reported this week. This brings the total since the start of 2026 to 266 drought-related incidents. This includes low flow and abstraction related impacts, algal blooms and fish mortality incidents.

Navigation across many parts of the country continues to be restricted, with increasing numbers of localised impacts being reported. The Ross Rowing Regatta is cancelled due to low levels on the river Wye.

The Environment Agency continues its drought response, including activated incident management arrangements and increased environmental monitoring. The National Drought Group now meets weekly to coordinate action and monitor risks as drought conditions continue.

2. Active hosepipe bans (TUBs)

The following companies have implemented TUBs, in all or part of their supply areas:

• Affinity Water – Central and East regions, covering Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey, and parts of London and Essex
• Anglian Water – whole company area, excluding Hartlepool
• Bristol Water – whole company area
• Cambridge Water – whole company area
• Essex and Suffolk Water – whole company area
• Southern Water – Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
• South East Water – whole company area
• South West Water – whole company area, excluding Bournemouth
• Thames Water – whole company area
• Wessex Water – whole company area

3. Area drought status

There have been no changes in area drought status this week.

Figure 1 – Environment Agency drought status

3.1 Areas in drought

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

3.2 Areas in prolonged dry weather

• Northeast
• Yorkshire
• Cumbria and Lancashire
• Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire

3.3 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.

4. Current water situation

For much of England there has been some rainfall this week, but it still remains very dry in the south-east. Rainfall totals ranged from 6mm in south-east and south-west England to 23mm in the north-east. Rainfall totals for August to date range from 15% of the long-term average (LTA) for south-east England to 59% in north-west England. For England as a whole, the rainfall total for August (up to 25 August) is 34% of the LTA.

River flows decreased at more than half (58%) of the sites we report on when compared to the previous week. Four sites (7% of the total) were classed as normal. Nineteen sites (35%) were classed as below normal and a further 21 sites (39%) were notably low. Ten sites (19%) were classed as exceptionally low for the time of year.

The seasonal recession of groundwater levels continued at all sites in England. Most chalk sites are normal for the time of year although some sites in the Wessex Downs, Yorkshire Wolds, and North and South Downs remain classed as below normal or notably low. Skirwith in the Carlisle Basin and Eden Valley Sandstone in north-west England were below normal for the time of year. Groundwater levels at Tilshead in the Upper Hampshire Avon Chalk are now classed as exceptionally low. Levels at Jackaments Bottom in the oolite limestone of the Cotswolds in south-east England remain classed as exceptionally low. 

In the last week, reservoir storage has continued to fall at most reservoirs. Storage for England was 59.8% on 25 August, having fallen 2.7% in a week and is 18.2% below average for the time of year. With the continuing support of river flows in the River Severn, Clywedog saw the greatest decrease of 6.1%. The majority of reservoirs remain classed as below normal or lower, with nine classed as exceptionally low for the time of year including (Figure 2):

• Clatworthy reservoir operated by Wessex Water
• Clywedog operated by Hafren Dyfrdwy under direction of Environment Agency and National Resources Wales
• Dove Group operated by Severn Trent Water – winter refill was impacted by water quality and operational issues
• Blithfield reservoir operated by South Staffordshire Water
• Hanningfield reservoir operated by Essex and Suffolk Water
• Ardingly reservoir operated by South East Water
• Grafham Water and Rutland Water operated by Anglian Water
• Wimbleball reservoir operated by South West Water

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 25 August 2026 as a percentage of total capacity and classed relative to an analysis of historic values

5. Public water supply

Cooling temperatures and increased rain in parts of the country mean demand for water has decreased but still remains high for some water companies, particularly in the South East.

Water companies report their drought response using operational drought levels, from drought level (DL) 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 here are in business as usual (BAU). Further information on the situation can be found on each water company’s website.

5.1 Affinity Water

The company remains at BAU in terms of its drought levels, but is at its environmental trigger in its East region. TUBs remain in place for customers in its Central region and East region, driven by high demand.

5.2 Anglian Water

The company remains at DL2 in its Fenland and Norfolk, Norwich and in its Broads water resource zones (WRZ), and is at DL1 in Ruthamford, Lincolnshire and Suffolk. TUBs remain in place across the whole company area, except for Hartlepool.

5.3 Bristol Water

The company remains in BAU but has announced a TUB for all customers, to be enforced from Thursday 27 August. The TUB was implemented to help protect flows on the River Severn, after an application for a drought order by the Environment Agency.

5.4 Cambridge Water

The company remains at DL1. TUBs remain in place for all its customers.

5.5 Essex and Suffolk Water

The company remains at DL2 in all WRZs. TUBs remain in place for all its customers. Demand has declined slightly but is still above average for the time of year.

5.6 Northumbrian Water

The company remains in DL1 in all its WRZs. Demand has declined since last week.

5.7 Severn Trent Water

The company remains at DL1 in its North Staffs WRZ. Reservoir storage at Tittesworth reservoir continues to decline.

5.8 Southern Water

The company is at DL1 in its Hampshire and Isle of Wight WRZs. TUBs are still in force for customers in the Hampshire and the Isle of Wight area. The company applied to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for a drought order on the River Test and a non-essential drought order, on 31 July. A public hearing was held on 25 August. The Planning Inspectorate will produce a report.

5.9 South East Water

The company remains at DL2 in its Eastbourne and Haywards Heath WRZs. All other WRZs remain at DL1. Company-wide TUBs remain in force.

5.10 South Staffordshire Water

The company remains at DL1. Reservoir storage at Blithfield reservoir has declined from last week.

5.11 South West Water

Wimbleball zone remains at DL2, the Isles of Scilly have moved into DL2, with other WRZs remaining at BAU. TUBs remain in place for all customers, excluding Bournemouth. Overall demand remains high. The company withdrew its application for a drought permit, we are progressing a licence change for the company instead. 

5.12 Thames Water

The company remains at DL2 in all its WRZs. Company-wide TUBs remain in force.

5.13 United Utilities

The company’s Strategic Resource Zone (SRZ) is now in DL1 as Haweswater reservoir storage fell below DL1 on 26 August. Its Carlisle WRZ has moved from DL1 to enhanced monitoring and operations (EMO).

5.14 Wessex Water

The company remains at DL1. Reservoir storage continues to decline. A company-wide TUB was implemented on 18 August.

5.15 Yorkshire Water

The company remains at DL1 in its Grid WRZ. Reservoir storage continues to decline.

6. Agriculture

Focus now turns to lifting of root crops which face challenging conditions due to hard soil. Irrigation restrictions limit availability of water to soften ground. There are 1,412 restrictions on abstraction licences. This is a small improvement from last week due to lifting of restrictions in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire due to improving river levels. There has also been a move from a full restriction to a reduction in the Middle Level.

Section 57 restrictions have been implemented in parts of East Anglia until 31 October, with a 50% reduction on abstraction affecting 288 spray licences to protect the environment. Fourteen abstractors in the Wensum catchment in Norfolk are now required to cease abstraction completely.

Voluntary abstraction restrictions to 50% volume have been requested in East Anglia (192), Thames (245), Wye (261) and Severn (680). Voluntary restrictions may be required in other areas such as Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire and Cheshire if the dry weather continues. There are an increasing number of flexible abstraction requests, with 30 requests from the agriculture sector to date. The Environment Agency continues to work closely with abstractors and partners regarding the implementation of any formal restrictions.

With the ground conditions previously so dry, the recent rainfall is less likely to soak into soils, increasing the risk of run-off. To protect rivers from pollution, farmers are advised to assess ground and weather conditions before spreading organic manures, including slurries.

7. Environment

Confirmed incidents caused by drought and dry weather have risen significantly in the past week, with an additional 40 incidents bringing the total to 266 incidents recorded since the start of 2026. This is similar to this time in 2025 (272). Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, Hertfordshire and North London, Solent and South Downs, West Midlands, Thames, and Kent and South London areas continue to record relatively high numbers of drought and dry weather incidents.

There have been 24 confirmed algae and 44 confirmed dead fish incidents attributed to drought and dry weather since the start of 2026. Incidents in the past week include fish mortality on the river Thames and an algal bloom in Bridgwater Docks. The reported numbers are above this time in 2025 for algae but lower than 2025 for incidents with dead fish attributed to drought and dry weather. When the estimated numbers are included, the overall numbers of incidents with dead fish are rapidly increasing and are well above confirmed numbers for August 2025.

To date there has been 140 confirmed abstraction or low flow incidents, with the highest numbers recorded in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Thames, West Midlands and Hertfordshire and North London areas. The number of confirmed abstraction or low flow incidents is now similar to totals from 2025, although numbers of estimated and confirmed incidents are rapidly increasing. This indicates the final numbers of confirmed incidents may eventually exceed last year.

8. Navigation

The situation across waterways managed by the Canal & River Trust is stable, but with resource levels very low due to a combination of demand and ongoing engineering works. The Trust has activated a national incident response.

Reservoir-fed canals are particularly affected, and whilst overall many canals are open for navigation, some remain closed or are restricted.

Within the Environment Agency’s navigation remit, navigation closures are in place in the areas of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire & North London and the lower Thames. In Kent, fish and canoe passes have been closed on the Medway.

Low river levels on the River Wye have caused the cancellation of the annual Ross Rowing Regatta.

There is concern that intense rainfall events could trigger fish death incidents due to pollutant run-off into the canals. If you see fish in distress, contact our 24-hour hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

9. Weather forecast

Low pressure systems will continue to bring rain and heavy showers across many areas of England on Friday and throughout the weekend. Temperatures will be around average for the time of year and it will feel warm in sunnier conditions. The unsettled conditions are forecast to continue into next week with rain, heavy at times, for many areas of England.

10. Drought readiness actions

The Environment Agency has activated its incident response arrangements, with Gold Command structures in place and drought plans being implemented to support early intervention and coordinated action.

Enhanced communications activity being taken includes:

• Issuing press notices and holding media briefings
• Increasing engagement with stakeholders, local partners and MPs
• Publishing a weekly drought update on GOV.UK

The Environment Agency has strengthened environmental monitoring, increasing both surveillance and operational interventions to identify, assess and mitigate potential environmental impacts as drought conditions develop.

The National Drought Group has increased its frequency of meetings to weekly to monitor risks, preparation and impacts of the ongoing drought, with the next meeting on 3 September.

11. Contact us

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