Drought likely to continue into 2026 due to record dry weather
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The National Drought Group has warned England must prepare for an
ongoing drought in 2026, unless there is significant rain this
autumn and winter. There are concerns about
the country's water resources because of this year's record dry
spring and warm summer. The expert group - which includes the Met
Office, government, regulators, water companies, the National
Farmers' Union, Canal & River Trust, anglers, and conservation
experts – met in...Request free trial
The National Drought Group has warned England must prepare for an ongoing drought in 2026, unless there is significant rain this autumn and winter. There are concerns about the country's water resources because of this year's record dry spring and warm summer. The expert group - which includes the Met Office, government, regulators, water companies, the National Farmers' Union, Canal & River Trust, anglers, and conservation experts – met in central London this morning. They heard during an Environment Agency presentation that England needs at least 100% of average rainfall (482mm) to largely recover from drought by the end of March next year. For context, only two months of 2025 have seen more than 100% so far. National Drought Group chair Helen Wakeham said: The recent rain is very welcome, but it needs to be sustained over the next six months to ensure we are ready for next year. We need a lot more rain this winter to fill up our rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater. Even if it is wet outside, I urge people to use water as efficiently as possible to protect the environment and public water supplies. The changing climate means we must prepare for more droughts. Securing our water resources needs to be a national priority. We expect water companies to continue their water-saving messaging, even through the winter, as well as carry on reducing leaks. All sectors - including water companies, agriculture, navigation, and energy – have been urged to take steps now to increase their resilience for a prolonged drought. This includes water companies promoting more efficient water use and increasing their efforts to reduce leakage. They must also make sure their assets, such as pipes, pumps and reservoirs, are working well and submit applications for drought permits early to maximise water storage. Farmers have been urged to check their licences and speak to the EA if they are likely to need flexibility. They have also been asked to look to increase reservoir storage and work with their neighbours to share water, where possible. Meanwhile the public have been urged to continue to use water wisely, including turning off taps when not in use or fitting a water butt to capture winter rainfall. Everyone has a part to play, to help mitigate the impacts of the dry year. The meeting heard:
The Met Office declared the summer of 2025 as the hottest since records began in 1884, while the spring was the driest in 132 years. Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Dr Will Lang, said: This year has been characterised by notable rainfall deficits across much of England. By 28th October, provisional data shows England had only 61% of its expected annual rainfall, when we'd normally have about 80% at this time of the year (based on 1991–2020 average). While recent rainfall has helped, regional variations remain, and drought conditions continue to affect several areas. Looking ahead, there is an increased risk of dry spells through late autumn and early winter and regional differences in rainfall continue to be likely. Without sustained and widespread precipitation, a consistent recovery from drought remains uncertain. We continue to work closely with the Environment Agency and other partners to monitor conditions and support preparedness efforts as we move into the winter period. Water is finite and there are competing demands between public use, businesses, agriculture, and the environment. In dry weather, water still needs to be abstracted from rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater and a drought is only over when these levels are fully replenished. This can take months – sometimes years. The National Drought Group praised the public for following the hosepipe bans, where in place, as this has kept more water in local rivers and lakes. The Environment Agency continues to work with Government, including Defra and the Cabinet Office, on the drought response, which is still deemed a “nationally significant incident.” Water Minister Emma Hardy said: It's been encouraging to see the scorched summer lawns returning to green in recent weeks. But we know the prolonged lack of rainfall continues to pose risks to public water supplies, farming, and the environment. We are closely monitoring all regions - especially those still experiencing drought – and working with the National Drought Group and water companies to maintain supplies. We face increasing pressure on our water resources. That is why this Government is taking decisive action, including the development of nine new reservoirs to help secure long-term water resilience. Last week, Waterwise ran its annual Water Night campaign, encouraging people to turn off non-essential taps between 5-10pm in a symbolic gesture to notice daily water habits. Several landmarks, including Mont Orgueil Castle in Jersey and The Mersey Gateway Bridge were lit in blue as a show of support. Over the course of the spring and summer, water companies – particularly in the drought areas of Yorkshire, East and West Midlands and parts of Sussex - have also taken the below actions to conserve supplies.
ADDITIONAL NDG PARTNER QUOTES: Nicci Russell, CEO of Waterwise, said: Our Water Night survey revealed that while 90% of participants were aware of regional droughts experienced across the UK this year, awareness of the long-term risks of water scarcity is far lower. Only 23% of respondents said they ‘know well' that the UK could face a significant water shortfall in coming years, with more than half having heard the risk but lacking details. The findings highlight a critical knowledge gap - people notice immediate drought events but may underestimate the scale of the long-term challenge. Even if water companies plugged all the gaps, we still need everyone at home and at work to reflect how valuable water is in their own behaviour. So, making it easy for all of us to waste less water, and explaining why, is more important than ever. NOTES TO EDITORS: The 100% rainfall figure comes from the Environment Agency's forthcoming Drought Prospects Report. Long-term average rainfall stats for 2025 so far:
Autumn / winter water saving tips:
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