Britain's England is grappling with drought again.
According to the Environment Agency (the government body responsible for water and environmental management in England), approximately three-quarters of England's land remains in drought due to an exceptionally dry spring and summer, followed by successive heatwaves.
How much rain, and for how long, must fall to fully escape this drought?
3-Line Summary
1. Three-quarters of England remains in drought
2. 120% of average rainfall is needed to escape by spring
3. Actual resolution will only be confirmed by next spring
Reservoirs Stand 20% Points Below Normal Levels
According to new research from the Environment Agency, though some rain fell in early September, England's complete recovery from drought would require 120% of average rainfall over the seven months from now through April next year. Groundwater levels remain low, and as of last week, England's reservoir storage rate fell short of 57%, roughly 20% points below normal levels for this time of year.
Philip Duffy, head of the Environment Agency, stated: "The drought situation remains very serious, and we cannot underestimate the challenges of the months ahead." He added that "weeks of rain alone cannot reverse the water deficit created by the dry spring and summer," and emphasized that everyone must use water more conservatively to accelerate drought recovery. Four areas in eastern Scotland are experiencing "severe water shortage," with river flows remaining below the standard threshold for 30 consecutive days, while Wales continues to experience drought across the entire region.
Even With Rain, Roughly Half the Land May Remain in Drought by Spring—About a 1 in 4 Chance
The National Drought Group, comprising the government, the Met Office, water suppliers, farming organizations, and river and canal management bodies, holds weekly meetings to coordinate drought response efforts. According to forecasts reviewed by this group, even under the most likely scenario—a wetter autumn as predicted by the Met Office—the Devon, Cornwall, and East Anglia regions are not expected to escape drought by April next year. For England as a whole, the probability that roughly half the country remains in drought by next spring is about 1 in 4, while the probability of severe drought is currently about 1%. The Environment Agency explained that England has not experienced severe drought since 1976.
For comparison, from September 2025 through March 2026, rainfall reached 130% of average, which aided recovery from drought at that time. However, rainfall during the following spring reached only 56% of average, and summer rainfall was only 64% of average, dealing a blow to crop yields and wildlife populations including fish and birds. Current El Niño conditions, at near-record levels, are known to tend to bring wet and stormy weather to Britain in late autumn and early winter, but the Met Office forecasts that late September will actually bring a return to drier weather, particularly in the southern regions where rain is most needed.
Government Pursues Nine New Reservoirs and Farm Support Measures
The government has urged water suppliers not to slow the pace of water conservation measures. Emma Hardy, the water resources minister, stated: "Recent rainfall alone is insufficient to replenish what was consumed over the past six months," and said that water suppliers can avoid additional restrictions if they quickly repair leaks and implement drought response plans without delay.
The government's announced response measures include support totaling 6500万 pounds (65 million pounds) for drought-affected farms, of which up to 1500万 pounds (15 million pounds) will help farms construct their own water storage facilities, along with 100 million pounds for strengthening response capabilities to extreme weather and wildfires. Additionally, the government plans to construct 9 new reservoirs by 2050, expand seawater desalination facilities and inter-regional water transmission networks, and is pursuing legal reforms to automatically designate reservoirs as national critical infrastructure to expedite permitting. However, the actual effectiveness of these measures and whether the drought will be fully resolved depends on autumn and winter precipitation in the months ahead, so definitive results are not yet certain.