Experts report that July 2026 may be recognized as the driest month on record for England and Wales in the entire history of observations. This unprecedented drought, driven by extreme heat exacerbated by the climate crisis, has left half of England officially under a state of drought while all of Wales faces severe water scarcity.
Since May, the region has endured four record-breaking heat waves that have triggered massive wildfires and left farmers and wildlife without critical water resources. In July alone, England received just 7% of its average annual precipitation, with southern England experiencing only 1%. This extreme dryness has damaged greenery across parks, protected areas, and sports grounds while simultaneously causing significant declines in river and lake levels.
UK farmers are being forced to harvest crops ahead of schedule to avoid losses from water shortages. The month also saw 393 forest fires recorded across England and Wales. Meanwhile, Europe’s heavy industries are facing mounting challenges as major rivers continue drying up amid the prolonged heat wave, with forecasts indicating no substantial improvement in river conditions is expected for the foreseeable future.
