Summary

  • More parts of England are expected to be declared in drought ahead of the fifth heatwave of 2026, due to start this week

  • The National Drought Group, which is made up of regulators, government officials, water companies and agricultural bodies, is meeting later to decide on the areas - an announcement will likely follow

  • All of Wales and more than half of England are already in drought

  • Scotland doesn't declare in the same way and instead monitors "water scarcity", while there are no official droughts currently in Northern Ireland

  • Continued dry weather across the country has had an impact on water supplies, with 23 million people already under hosepipe bans

  • Is there a ban in your area? Use our interactive tool to find out

Live Reporting

Edited by Caitlin Doherty and Charlotte Hadfield

  1. More of England could be declared in drought as fifth heatwave approaches

    Dry arid ground seen next to a water lineEPA/Shutterstock

    Low water levels have left the lake's bed visible at Hanningfield Reservoir in Essex

    The National Drought Group is meeting later today to decide if more regions will be declared as being in drought.

    The group – which covers England and Wales - is made up of regulators, government officials, water companies and agricultural bodies.

    Today's meeting comes as England and Wales brace for a fifth heatwave, while nearly two months without significant rainfall have placed growing pressure on water supplies and seen 23 million people subject to hosepipe bans.

    Half of England and the whole of Wales is already officially in drought.

    We’ll bring you all the latest on anything the National Drought Group announces, plus everything else you need to know on the weather, right here.