Drought declared across half of England in 'exceptionally serious situation' - full list of areas

The Environment Agency has officially declared a drought across half of England, describing the situation as exceptionally serious following unusually hot and dry weather and a shortage of water. The flash drought developed quickly, driven by what is projected to be the driest July on record following winter floods, leaving seven regions across the country affected.

While half of the country has entered official drought status, other areas remain in the preceding stage known as prolonged dry weather. This includes Greater Manchester, which is currently experiencing these pre-drought conditions as authorities monitor water levels and the ongoing impact of the unusually low rainfall.