Is UK facing drought for second summer in a row?

Due to the combination of prolonged dry weather and increased demand for water, hosepipe bans are in force for millions of customers in England.

River flows have decreased in recent weeks in England according to the Environment Agency, external, with 87% of catchments now at “below normal to exceptionally low levels”.

In Wales, where just 5% of July rainfall has fallen, Natural Resources Wales has moved the worst affected regions in the north and south-east into “prolonged dry weather status”, the first step in its drought plan.

Farmers and growers are “working around the clock to harvest crops which have come early, keep fruit and vegetables watered, and care for their livestock”, according to Paul Tompkins, deputy president of the National Farmers’ Union.

“Parts of the country, particularly in the east and south, have seen exceptionally low rainfall this spring and summer,” which he said could mean, “another difficult and expensive harvest after extreme weather impacts in both 2024 and 2025”.