West Midlands edges 'closer to drought status' putting pressure on key resources

The West Midlands edges closer to drought status according to environmental experts from the National Drought Group.

The National Drought Group announced that parts of the country are deemed to be in the “prolonged dry weather” category which is known as the stage before drought status.

This category of “prolonged dry weather” has been declared in the West Midlands, as well as other parts of southern, central, and eastern England.

The full list of places in the “prolonged dry weather” category include: East Anglia, West Midlands, Devon, Cornwall & Isles of Scilly, Lincolnshire & Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire & London, Wessex, Thames, Solent & the South Downs.

This category is concerning as the extreme weather is having a severe impact on our environment and affecting water supplies and food production across the country.

The group also said that only 13% of rivers are classed at normal levels for this time of year.

Moreover, a lack of July rainfall, combined with the heat, is also putting pressure on public supplies.

This included further demand for water soaring up to 30% on the hottest days.

Many experts across the sector have weighed in as the country gets much more dry and key resources are experiencing additional pressures.

Helen Wakeham, Chair of the National Drought Group and Director of Water at the Environment Agency, said:

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“Dry weather depletes our water, while the hot conditions mean we use more of it. This is a difficult combination, and we are seeing the effects on our farmers, our wildlife, and the amount available for public and business use.

“All sectors are taking action, and we are grateful to the public for following the restrictions, where in place, to make sure there is enough water for everyone this summer.

“We want everyone to stay safe and hydrated during the hot weather but every drop we can save is a drop more for nature and agriculture.”

Meanwhile, Rob Gazzard, Wildfire Adviser at the Forestry Commission, said:

“Wildfires do not start themselves; they are started by people, often accidentally, and they can quickly get out of control in dry conditions.

“Our soils and vegetation have lost so much moisture in this heat that any natural resistance to a fire has significantly reduced. Not only does it make vegetation more likely to burn, but it increases the intensity of fires once they start. This means fires take hold and spread quickly and are difficult to suppress.

“The recent fires have had a devastating impact on some areas, particularly on new trees and the wildlife that shelter there.”

Likewise, Will Lang, Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, said:

“Much of England has experienced a notably warm and dry first half of summer, with July particularly dry and some locations recording little or no rainfall so far this month. The UK has already seen three heatwaves in 2026 and, while some rain is possible at times, the overall outlook remains for largely settled conditions.”