England Needs 7 Months of Rain to End Drought

The Environment Agency has warned that much of England requires seven months of continuous torrential rain to emerge from its current drought. As of 2026-09-17T12:24:51+00:00, nearly 75% of England remains in drought conditions following an exceptionally dry spring and summer.

New research indicates that 120% of typical rainfall is necessary for all affected areas to be considered drought-free. This severe situation has prompted the National Drought Group, comprising government officials, water companies, and environmental experts, to meet weekly. The current drought is being compared to the significant drought experienced in 1976.

While an El Niño event might bring wetter autumn weather, projections suggest that regions like Devon and Cornwall could still be experiencing drought by April 2027. Water minister Emma Hardy emphasized that recent rainfall is insufficient to replenish the water deficit from the past six months. She has called on water companies to accelerate leak repairs and adhere to drought management plans.

Philip Duffy, chief executive of the Environment Agency, described the drought situation as "very serious," noting that several reservoirs are at concerningly low levels. He stressed the need for water companies to take all possible actions to secure supplies for the coming year, including enhanced leakage reduction. Duffy also highlighted that while autumn rains may help, floodwaters are difficult to store for public supply due to rapid arrival and high sediment content.