England’s record-breaking summer has left reservoirs and rivers struggling to recover, prompting the Environment Agency to extend drought status to Yorkshire. Only two regions in the north remain outside the official drought classification, although both are experiencing prolonged dry conditions.
Drought now affects 82% of England, according to the Environment Agency, after Yorkshire was added to the areas facing extreme water shortages.
The UK, like much of Europe, recorded its hottest summer on record in 2026, with successive heatwaves and exceptionally dry weather putting pressure on water supplies and the environment.
The agency warned that the drought was far from over, saying reservoirs and groundwater would need an extended period of wet weather to recover.
With Yorkshire’s inclusion, only two regions in northern England remain outside the official drought classification. Both, however, have been placed under the lower-level designation of “prolonged dry weather”, which precedes formal drought status.
Reservoir levels remain well below average
The effects of the dry conditions are reflected in England’s rainfall figures and dwindling water reserves.
In September, the country received just 65% of its average rainfall for the month. Reservoirs were only 55% full, well below the 74.3% level normally expected at this time of year, according to the Environment Agency.
The figures highlight the strain that prolonged heat and a lack of rainfall have placed on water resources, with further wet weather needed to restore supplies.
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