Research and analysis

Dry weather and drought in England: 31 July to 6 August 2026

Updated 7 August 2026

Applies to England

1. Summary

The week to date saw the seventh consecutive week of less than 10mm of rainfall across England, with east and south-east England receiving less than 1mm. Met Office reported July as the driest on record for England, with just 10% of the long-term average (LTA) rainfall for the month.

River flows and groundwater levels declined across England, with many sites now classed as below normal or lower for the time of year. Reservoir storage for England has fallen to 69%, 11.6% below the LTA, and 5 reservoirs are now classed as exceptionally low.

Environment Agency areas saw no changes to dry weather and drought status over the past week. However, several areas expect status changes during the week commencing 10 August.

Public water supplies remain under increasing pressure with continued dry weather and high demand. Eight water companies have implemented Temporary Use Bans (TUBs) across all or parts of their supply areas, while several companies have escalated their drought response to higher operational drought levels. Over 25 million people have restrictions on their water use.

The drought conditions are having significant impacts beyond public water supply. The agriculture sector reports reduced crop yields, poor grass growth and pressure on winter livestock forage stocks. Water resource pressures have intensified, with over 1,500 abstraction restrictions in place. Environment Agency plan to introduce formal abstraction restrictions in parts of East Anglia to protect exceptionally low river flows.

Low river flows and declining water levels are affecting navigation, with increasing canal restrictions and pressure on reservoir-fed waterways, prompting a national incident response by the Canal & River Trust.

Environmental impacts are becoming more evident, with rising numbers of drought-related incidents including low-flow events, algal blooms, fish deaths and deteriorating water quality. The continued hot, dry conditions are also increasing wildfire risk, with the Environment Agency enhancing monitoring and interventions to help mitigate impacts.

2. Active hosepipe bans (TUBs)

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

• Affinity Water – Central region, covering Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Surrey, and parts of London and Essex
• Anglian Water – whole company area, excluding Hartlepool
• 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 – Mid Devon and parts of East Devon and Dorset
• Thames 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 London
• Thames
• Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (in Solent and South Downs)
• Devon and Cornwall
• West Midlands
• Wessex

3.2 Areas in prolonged dry weather

• Solent and South Downs (remaining catchments)
• Kent and East Sussex
• Cumbria and Lancashire
• Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire
• East Midlands
• Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire

3.3 Areas in normal status

• Yorkshire
• Northeast

3.4 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

Although north-west England had a slightly wetter week, it was the seventh consecutive week where England received less than 10mm of rainfall. Rainfall totals ranged from less than 1mm of rainfall in east and south-east England, to 13mm in north-west England. For August so far, all parts of England have received less than 10% of the LTA for the month, with England receiving 4%.

Rainfall totals for July ranged from 25% of the LTA in north-west England, to just 1% in the south-east. England received 10% of the LTA making it the driest July for England on record (since 1836).

Following another dry week, river flows decreased at more than three-quarters of the sites we report on. Almost all sites were classed as below normal or lower, with just 7 sites classed as normal for the time of year. Eighteen sites (33% of the total) were classed as below normal, 17 (31%) were classed as notably low, and 12 (22%) were classed as exceptionally low. 

Groundwater levels continued their seasonal recession across all sites in England. Although many chalk sites were normal for the time of year, some in the Wessex Downs, Yorkshire Wolds and North and South Downs were below normal or notably low. In the Cotswolds, groundwater levels in the oolite limestones are also notably low.

Reservoir storage continued to decline at all reservoirs, and for the week ending 4 August, storage for England was 69%, having fallen 3%. England storage is now 11.6% below the LTA for the time of year, although it remains above storage seen at a similar time of year in 2022 and 2025. Clywedog saw the greatest change in storage, with a decrease of more than 6%, as it continues to support river flows in the River Severn.

Almost all reservoirs are now classed as below normal or lower with 5 classed as exceptionally low for the time of year including (Figure 2):

• Blagdon operated by Bristol Water
• Clywedog operated by Hafren Dyfrdwy under direction of Environment Agency and National Resources Wales
• Dove Group operated by Severn Trent Water
• Hanningfield operated by Essex and Suffolk Water
• Wimbleball 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 28 July 2026 as a percentage of total capacity and classed relative to an analysis of historic July values

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.

Kielder reservoir levels are lower than historic levels due to a new flood alleviation control curve in use. The Dee System, Elan Valley Group, Clywedog and Vyrnwy reservoirs provide water resources to central and north west England. Dove Group and Teesdale Group reservoirs are impacted by planned maintenance and safety works. The Lower Thames Group is impacted by previous planned outage.

5. Public water supply

Temperatures remained high this week, leading many water companies to continue to experience significant demands for water. Combined with below-average rainfall, this has increased pressure on water resources, with reservoir storage, groundwater levels and river flows continuing to decline.

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 BAU. Further information on the situation can be found on each water company’s website.

5.1 Affinity Water

The company remains at BAU and is at its environmental trigger in its East region. TUBs remain in place for customers in its Central region.

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 Cambridge Water

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

5.4 Essex and Suffolk Water

The company remains at DL2 in all WRZs. TUBs are in place for all its customers; this commenced on 3 August.

5.5 Severn Trent Water

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

5.6 Southern Water

The company is at DL2 in its Hampshire and Isle of Wight WRZs. TUBs are still in force for customers in the Hampshire and the Isle of Wight area.

5.7 South East Water

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

5.8 South West Water

The company’s Wimbleball area remains at DL1. Isles of Scilly went into DL1 on 29 July. TUBs remain in place for customers in an area in Devon and Dorset. Overall demand remains high. The company applied for a drought permit on 20 July.

5.9 South Staffordshire Water

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

5.10 Thames Water

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

5.11 United Utilities

The company remains at enhanced monitoring and operations (EMO) for its Haweswater and Thirlmere WRZs. Castle Reservoir in the Carlisle WRZ is now at DL1 due to decreased storage.

5.12 Wessex Water

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

6. Agriculture

With July seeing very little rainfall, significant pressures continue in the agriculture sector. According to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, farmers have had the earliest harvest in 20 years. Early evidence shows lower yields for wheat, spring barley, oats and grasslands, although this will vary across the regions.

Livestock farmers continue to be impacted by poor grass growth, placing increased pressures on winter forage stocks.

Across the horticulture sector, there have been mixed impacts with strong yields for berry producers whilst salad production finished 2 weeks earlier than usual.

Significant pressures continue on water resources for agriculture with many river levels range between below normal to exceptionally low. There are 1,534 restrictions on abstraction licences and farm reservoirs remain low.

The Environment Agency is communicating S57 restrictions to 302 abstractors in East Anglia, which will mean a 50% reduction in what most of them can abstract. Further details will be included in next week’s dry weather and drought briefing.

Formal restrictions may be required in the Wye catchment, West Midlands, later in August if the dry conditions continue. The Environment Agency continue to work closely with abstractors and partners regarding the implementation of any formal restrictions.

7. Environment

Confirmed incidents caused by drought and dry weather have been steadily rising, with a total of 134 incidents recorded since the start of 2026. This is lower than at this time in 2025 (184). Relatively high numbers of these incidents have been reported in Greater Manchester and Chesire, Solent and South Downs, West Midlands, Thames, and Kent and South London areas.

There have been 19 confirmed algae and 15 confirmed dead fish incidents attributed to drought and dry weather since the start of 2026. There have been 67 confirmed abstraction or low flow incidents, with highest numbers in West Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire and North London, and Thames areas.

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. Navigation

The Canal & River Trust water resources position has deteriorated but is marginally better than last year. Four heatwaves have led to a rapid draw down of water supply reservoirs due to high demands on the network. Several reservoirs are operating with reduced storage because of ongoing engineering works, further increasing pressure on water resources. Reservoir-fed canals are most affected, while river navigations, such as the River Severn, remain more resilient. Most canals are open for navigation but there are an increasing number of localised impacts due to low water levels. Without rainfall there may be further closures in August.

All river users are being advised to take extra care when navigating. The Canal & River Trust has activated a national incident response, supported by regional incident groups to manage impacts and reduce risks.

9. Weather forecast

Friday will be dry, sunny and warm for much of England. These conditions will remain over the weekend and into Monday, with temperatures turning hot in the south. Later in the week, conditions are expected to become more changeable, with a chance of rain in parts of northern England. Southern and eastern areas will be drier and more settled.

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 was reconvened on 20 July to monitor risks, preparation and impacts. It will meet monthly through the summer. The next meeting is on 10 August.

Check the UK Health Security Agency guidance on staying safe in hot weather.

11. Contact us

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