Hampshire and Isle of Wight officially declared in drought after record-low rainfall

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have officially been declared in drought as exceptionally dry and hot weather continues to affect water supplies, farming and wildlife across England.

The Environment Agency said parts of Hampshire had gone without a day of rain for 49 days, while southern England had received only one per cent of its expected rainfall during July.

Rivers are running at low levels, the risk of wildfires is increasing and restrictions have been placed on how water can be used in several areas.

The drought declaration covers Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, East Anglia, Hertfordshire and London, the Thames Valley, Devon and Cornwall, the West Midlands and Wessex.

Wessex includes Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire.

Kent and East Sussex, along with the remaining parts of the Solent and South Downs area, have been moved into prolonged dry weather status.

Other areas now experiencing prolonged dry weather include Cumbria and Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, the East Midlands, and Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire.

Only Yorkshire and the North East remain at normal status, although conditions are being closely monitored.

The Environment Agency said half of England was now in drought following a rapid shift from a very wet winter to an exceptionally hot and dry summer.

July has so far received only seven per cent of its long-term average rainfall across England, falling to one per cent across southern areas.

The dry weather has been combined with three heatwaves, including 12 consecutive days when temperatures exceeded 30C. A fourth heatwave is now under way.

Water storage levels across England have fallen to 75.3 per cent, around 7.4 percentage points below the long-term average for this time of year.

Around 78 per cent of England’s rivers are now classified as below normal or lower, while one in six is considered exceptionally low for the time of year.

Seven water companies have introduced temporary-use bans affecting around 23 million customers, including Southern Water and South East Water.

The Environment Agency has increased monitoring and is controlling how much water can be taken from rivers and groundwater.

Helen Wakeham, Director of Water at the Environment Agency and Chair of the National Drought Group, said: “The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it.

“A second consecutive summer drought is an exceptionally serious situation and one that will have long-lasting impacts on our environment, wildlife, and the economy.

“We want everyone to stay safe and hydrated during the hot weather but every drop we can save is a drop more for nature and agriculture.”

The National Drought Group held a dedicated briefing with Water Minister Emma Hardy on Tuesday, 28 July.

Representatives from government, regulators, water companies, farming organisations, conservation groups and the Met Office reviewed the impacts of the drought and the response across England.

Water companies were told to prioritise fixing leaks, while work is continuing to secure supplies into the autumn.

Water Minister Emma Hardy said: “Our climate is changing, droughts are becoming increasingly common, and we need to be prepared for this new normal.

“We’re delivering long-term change in the water industry and driving record investments in infrastructure, including nine new reservoirs.

“We expect water companies to follow their drought plans, to go further and faster to reduce leaks, and to ensure supplies are not disrupted even in the driest of weather.”

The Environment Agency said the current situation marked England’s third drought in five years, following previous droughts in 2022 and 2025.

Conditions are having widespread effects on agriculture, with some farmers harvesting cereal crops early and reporting reduced yields.

Low river flows have led to more than 1,500 restrictions on water abstraction licences, while farm reservoirs are also declining rapidly.

There have been 110 wildfires on Sites of Special Scientific Interest so far this year, while low water levels are affecting fish, amphibians and other wildlife.

Migratory fish such as Atlantic salmon are struggling to move upstream because of reduced river flows, while a lack of rain is affecting breeding pools used by species including natterjack toads.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Will Lang said: “The warm and exceptionally dry conditions experienced across much of England over recent months are continuing to have a significant impact. Many areas have received very little or no rainfall throughout July, extending a period of below-average rainfall that has persisted across parts of the country since spring.

“While there are indications of occasional unsettled spells during the first part of August, bringing the chance of rain to some locations, there is currently little sign of the widespread, sustained rainfall that would be needed to make a significant difference to the areas most affected by the dry weather.

“The Met Office continues to work closely with the Environment Agency and partners across the water sector, providing expert meteorological information and forecasts to support drought monitoring, planning and response activities.”

The Environment Agency said existing reserves should be sufficient for the coming months if people follow restrictions and reduce unnecessary water use.

Residents are being encouraged to take shorter showers, turn off taps while brushing their teeth, run washing machines only with full loads and repair leaking toilets.

Officials warned that leaking toilets can waste between 200 and 400 litres of water each day.

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