The Met Office reported that July 2026 set a historic record as the driest month on record in southern England since records began nearly 200 years ago. England and Wales also provisionally recorded their driest July since measurements began in 1836. The conditions were characterized by exceptional warmth, with Wales experiencing its joint warmest July on record for mean temperature and England recording its second warmest July.
The extreme weather reflected broader climatic patterns, with July marking the sixth consecutive month this year to experience above-average mean temperatures. The Met Office attributed the intensified heatwaves to fossil fuel-driven climate change. The organization noted that the late June heatwave affecting western Europe was the most severe and widespread on record.
England received only 6.5 millimeters of rainfall in July, approximately 10 percent of its long-term average for the month and significantly less than the previous record of 13.4 millimeters set in 1911. Wales recorded 9.3 millimeters of rainfall, representing just 9 percent of its historical average. Nineteen counties experienced minimal precipitation, with several recording less than 1 millimeter. The drought conditions prompted officials to declare half of England and the entirety of Wales as officially in drought status, with 40 percent of England’s population subject to hosepipe bans.
The Environment Agency warned that the drought was affecting farmers, wildlife, and water availability for public and business consumption. The National Farmers’ Union cautioned that the conditions could result in food shortages in Britain. Meanwhile, extreme weather patterns across Europe included severe wildfires, with rivers like the Danube experiencing dramatically reduced water flows. The Environment Agency indicated that water reserves should remain sufficient for coming months pending sustained rainfall.
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