UK Parched: Drought Grips England and Wales

Hot and dry weather continues to grip the UK, with drought conditions intensifying across England and Wales as of August 12, 2026. Nearly 75% of England and the entirety of Wales are now officially in drought, a situation exacerbated by a record dry July and a dry start to August. This has led to immense pressure on water resources.

Temperatures are forecast to reach highs of 33C in some areas on Wednesday, with predictions of up to 38C on Thursday. This impending heatwave, potentially the fifth of the year, places the UK on track for its hottest summer on record. Consequently, 45 million people are living under drought conditions, and 27 million individuals already face water-use restrictions, including hosepipe bans for many.

The National Drought Group has reported that drought conditions are worsening and will persist until substantial and sustained rainfall is received. The agricultural sector is particularly hard-hit, with significant impacts on the environment also noted. River levels have fallen, and dry ground poses a wildfire risk, as evidenced by a recent major grass fire in Exeter.

Official alerts, including yellow heat health alerts, are in place for various regions across England. The Met Office is considering issuing rare extreme heat warnings, similar to those issued in June. This ongoing extreme weather event has been linked to thousands of excess deaths during previous heatwaves earlier in the summer.