Research and analysis

Dry weather and drought in England: 9 January to 22 January 2026

Updated 23 January 2026

Applies to England

1. Summary

There have been further improvements in the water resources position following the wet weather over the last 2 weeks. The last part of the country at drought status in our last report, those areas in Sussex supplied by South East Water, have now moved into recovery status. The upper Hampshire Avon catchment in Wessex Area also moved into recovery status this week. Five catchments in East Anglia will be moving from prolonged dry weather status to recovery next Monday, 26 January. Only the North-West Norfolk, Cam & Ely Ouse, and Essex catchments remain in prolonged dry weather status. This is the first time since 29 May 2025 that England has been drought free.  

The last couple of weeks have been particularly wet across central and southern England. In the first 20 days of January, central, south-east and east England had already received more than the long term average (LTA) rainfall for the month. England has received 82% of the LTA rainfall for the month so far. 

In response to the wet weather, river flows have increased and most are classed as normal or higher for the time of year. Only the River Burn in north Norfolk is below normal. 

Soils are now saturated across England, and this is helping recharge groundwater levels. Soil moisture deficits are either around average or wetter than average for the time of year.  

Reservoir storage for England is 2% below average at 87.8%, having increased by 2.9% in the last 2 weeks, although overall storage in east England is still much lower than expected for the time of year.

Abberton and Hanningfield reservoirs in Essex remain below 60% full. Some farmers in East Anglia are still reporting they have not been able to refill their reservoirs. 

2. Area drought status

There have been 3 changes to area drought status since the last briefing on 8 January.

In Solent and South Downs (SSD) area, the areas in Sussex supplied by South East Water have moved from drought status to recovery.

In Wessex area, the Upper Hampshire Avon catchment has moved from prolonged dry weather status to recovery.

In East Anglia area, on Monday 26 January we will move the following 5 catchment areas from prolonged dry weather status to recovery:

• Upper and Bedford Ouse
• Old Bedford and Middle Level
• North Norfolk
• Broadland Rivers
• East Suffolk

The remaining catchments in the East Anglia area will remain at prolonged dry weather status.

Area teams are meeting regularly to review the drought indicators. With the generally improving situation, it is likely that some more areas will change status in the coming weeks.

2.1 Areas in drought

No areas or catchments are in drought status.

2.2 Areas in prolonged dry weather

In East Anglia (EAN):

• North-west Norfolk
• Cam & Ely Ouse
• Essex catchments

2.3 Areas in recovery

• Yorkshire (YOR)
• East Midlands (EMD)
• West Midlands (WMD)
• North East (NEA)
• Solent and South Downs (SSD)
• Thames (THM)
• Wessex (WSX)
• East Anglia (EAN) 5 catchments – see list in section 2

2.4 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.

3. Current water situation

The last couple of weeks have been wet, particularly across central and southern England starting with Storm Goretti. It has been relatively drier across the north. In the first 20 days of January, central, south-east and east England had already received above LTA rainfall for January. In contrast, the north-west and north-east have received less than 60% LTA rainfall. England has received 82% of the LTA rainfall for the month so far. 

Soils are now saturated across England with soil moisture deficits either around average, or wetter than average for the time of year.  

River flows are classed as normal or higher across all sites except one groundwater dominated catchment in north Norfolk where flows remain below normal. Most sites (85%) are classed as normal or above normal. Thirteen per cent are notably or exceptionally high for the time of year, all of these are in south-west England.  

Groundwater levels are now classed as normal or higher at almost all sites in week ending 20 January, with just 3 exceptions:

• Washpit Farm and Tilshead in east and south-west England respectively, were classed as below normal
• Chipstead in south-east England was classed as notably low

These are now rising, particularly at Tilshead and Chipstead. Groundwater levels across all chalk aquifers are now rising, except in Yorkshire, where they remain above normal or higher for the time of year. 

Reservoir stocks across England for the period ending 20 January 2026 were 87.8%, having increased by 2.9% in the last 2 weeks. Two reservoirs remain below 60% full – Abberton and Hanningfield in Essex and Suffolk Water’s supply area, where refill has flatlined owing to ongoing infrastructure and water quality issues.  

Further details are available from Water situation reports for England.  

4. Public water supply

Most water companies have seen good recovery and are moving into business as usual mode. Some residual risks remain for water companies in East Anglia and South East England with lower than expected reservoir levels and variable groundwater recharge. The risk of drought impacts next year in these areas is dependent on the rest of winter rainfall and groundwater recharge. There is however still have time for sources to recover through February and March.  

Water companies report their drought response using operational drought levels, from drought level 1 escalating to level 4. Companies not included below are in business as usual mode. We are regularly engaging with all companies and with Water UK on the situation.

4.1 Anglian Water

Anglian Water remains at drought level 1 in the following supply areas: Fenland, Norfolk Norwich and the Broads, Ruthamford Central, North, South, and West. 

4.2 Cambridge Water

Cambridge Water remains at drought level 1. 

4.3 Essex and Suffolk Water

Essex and Suffolk Water remains at drought level 1 in its Essex supply area. Northern Central, Blyth, and Hartismere supply areas have moved from drought level 1 into business as usual. 

4.4 Northumbrian Water

Northumbrian Water has moved from drought level 1 into business as usual.  

4.5 Southern Water

Southern Water has moved from drought level 2 in its Kent Medway and Sussex Hastings areas into business as usual. Its Sussex Worthing and Sussex Brighton areas have moved from drought level 1 into business as usual. All other areas are in business as usual.  

4.6 South East Water

South East Water remains at drought level 1 in its water resource zones 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8. Water resources zones 4 and 5 have moved from drought level 1 into business as usual. The company implemented a temporary use ban (TUB) for customers in Kent and Sussex areas from 18 July 2025 and removed exemptions from this ban on 17 October. More detail is available on South East Water website.  

4.7 Thames Water

Thames Water’s London zone remains at drought level 1. Its other zones remain at business as usual.

4.8 Veolia Water

Veolia Water Projects Limited remains at drought level 1.  

5. Agriculture

The wet weather during the autumn and first part of winter continues to improve the situation for the agriculture sector. 

The reservoir refill position is generally improving with reports of full reservoirs in the Midlands and western parts of the country, however, there are parts of eastern England where some irrigation reservoirs are still not sufficiently refilled. In particular, where there have been hands-off flow restrictions on abstraction licences. There are currently 40 hands-off flow restrictions in force on abstraction licences.  

The Environment Agency is receiving requests to extend winter refill season beyond March 2026 and these will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis depending on water availability. 

Uncertainty around water resilience remains in the sector, especially if irrigation reservoirs are not refilled. We advise abstractors to review their licences to ensure that they still meet current requirements. We are currently reviewing short term support options for abstractors ahead of the spring in the event that there is a dry winter, in addition to long term water resources resilience options. 

The Environment Agency initial irrigation report will be published towards the end of February to inform the sector on the water resources position, actions to take to mitigate the risks from dry weather and short-term support packages. 

The Environment Agency dry weather farming blog is available to help farmers prepare for the winter and details support available to help improve access to water.  

6. Energy

There are no known issues with the energy sector. 

7. Environment

The number of incidents caused by drought and dry weather in 2025 was 319, around average for the last 8 years. The number of new drought and dry weather incidents has significantly reduced with the cooler wetter weather, with no incidents recorded so far this year. 

8. Navigation

There are no current drought or dry weather-related issues reported by The Canal & River Trust or any other navigation bodies.

9. Weather forecast

Friday will remain unsettled with showers or longer spells of rain; conditions are forecast to turn colder across England throughout the weekend with rain across southwest England. Monday and Tuesday will see milder conditions in southern England at times however it is likely to remain colder in northern and eastern England with the risk of some snow showers across hills in northern England

10. Drought readiness actions

The Environment Agency stood down its national Gold Command structure for drought on 22 January but still continues to monitor residual risks and ensuring it is prepared for the next drought. The next National Drought Group meeting is scheduled for 25 February, that will focus on:

• readiness for the summer (incorporating learning from 2025)

• the latest spray irrigation prospects for summer 2026

• a plan for continued communications

The next briefing is due on 26 February.

11. Contact us

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