With half of England now officially in drought scientists say the country is now in a new era of water extremes.

The Environment Agency declared last week that a large swathe of central, eastern, and southern England is now experiencing a flash drought – which develops very quickly brought about by a combination of very low rainfall and higher temperatures.

Rivers are running low, farmers are having to harvest crops early, wildfire risk is increasing, and millions of people are living under restrictions on water use.

The Environment Agency said it has stepped up its operational response, including enhanced monitoring and controlling how much water can be taken from rivers and groundwaters.

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.”

Representatives from the National Drought Group – which includes the Met Office, government, regulators, water companies, farmers, Canal & River Trust, anglers and conservation experts – held a dedicated drought briefing yesterday (Tuesday 28th July) with Water Minister, Emma Hardy.

They reviewed impacts, preparedness, and drought response actions across England, with water companies being told to prioritise fixing leaks.

UK 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 current drought now means there have been three droughts in the past five years – 2022, 2025 and now 2026. “There has been a dramatic shift in our weather this year – from a very wet winter to an exceptionally hot and dry summer.”

Scientists said the drought was down to the impact of climate change.

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.”

Professor Hayley Fowler, Newcastle University, added: “We’re entering an era of water extremes: more floods in winter, more droughts in summer, and not enough storage to bridge the gap. If we don’t act now, the taps that ran dry in 1976 could run dry again. This drought isn’t just about a lack of rain. It’s the result of hotter temperatures from a warming climate, rising water demand, ageing infrastructure and too much water being lost through leaks. Britain needs to treat water security as seriously as energy security, because once reservoirs run low, there’s no quick fix.

“The Climate Change Committee points to even more serious water shortages, with England alone facing a public water supply shortfall of around five billion litres per day by 2055. The warning is clear: climate change is increasing drought risk faster than we’re adapting our water infrastructure.”

Professor David Hannah, University of Birmingham, said action needed to be taken.

“The declaration of drought across half of England highlights the growing impact of climate extremes on our water environment, ecosystems and socio-economic activities,” he explained. “Moving from winter floods to record low rainfall within months demonstrates the urgent need for both immediate water-saving measures and long-term investment in climate resilience.”

Professor Richard Allan, at the University of Reading, concluded: “As the climate continues to warm, the atmosphere’s thirst for water grows and this makes drought onset more rapid and severe.

“Human caused climate change is intensifying the water cycle including wet and dry extremes with wilder swings between drought and deluge. This also worsens wildfire as wetter wet periods combined with higher carbon dioxide levels encourage extra vegetation growth, building more fuel for the fire that inevitably rages in subsequent intensely hot, dry episodes.

“It’s only though rapid cuts in greenhouse gases across all sectors of society that more damaging climate extremes can be avoided and this requires a long term strategy, not short term firefighting.”