Rainy England? July 2026 was the driest on record

Only 6.5 mm of rain fell in England in July, just 10% of the long-term monthly average. The UK Met Office reports that historic records were also broken for air temperature and sunshine duration. Unfortunately, the collapse of long-held weather stereotypes has been accompanied by an agricultural crisis and growing economic risk.

July in England like the Balearic Islands?

Until recently, English weather was associated with prolonged rain, fog and cool temperatures interrupted by brief sunny spells. The latest Met Office statistics point to a completely new reality.

This year’s July was the driest in England since 1836, when regular meteorological observations began. It was also the third driest month in the country’s history, after February 1891 and June 1925. These dates clearly illustrate the exceptional nature of the changes taking place. England has not experienced such a dry year for a century.

At the same time, this year’s July was the second hottest on record in both England and the entire United Kingdom, with significant exceedances of daily temperature values. The average monthly temperature across the UK reached 17.4°C, which was 2°C above the long-term average. In England alone, the anomaly reached 2.8°C, while Wales and Northern Ireland recorded their highest average monthly temperatures on record.

It was also remarkably sunny. England recorded 305.6 hours of sunshine and Wales 308 hours, more than 150% of the historical average.

The United Kingdom faces a water deficit

Unfortunately, the unfavorable hydrological outlook applies to almost the entire British Isles, with the exception of Scotland. According to the Met Office, this was the third driest July on record across the UK, with only 28.9 mm of rainfall, 35% of the long-term average. The last time such a severe rainfall deficit was recorded was in 1868.

The UK Environment Agency warns that these extraordinary meteorological conditions are having a negative impact on farmers, wildlife, and the amount of water available for public and industrial use. Hosepipe bans now affect 40% of England’s population, and the situation could worsen because rainfall in the coming days is expected only in northern parts of the United Kingdom.

Food prices rise, water storage becomes increasingly important

What may seem like an interesting weather curiosity and an invitation to visit the no longer so rainy British Isles is in fact a major threat to the British economy. The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has warned that the drought could lead to shortages of some food products. The situation is even more serious because farms across the country were hit by flooding during the winter, making planting extremely difficult. This year’s harvest has begun earlier than ever before in England, and wheat farmers say their yields are only half of what they would normally expect. Barley crops have also been severely affected.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw told BBC Radio 4 that the government should introduce tax incentives to help farmers invest in on-farm water storage systems.

Meanwhile, The Guardian reports that restaurants and supermarkets have been forced to buy lettuce and broccoli from Spain during what should be the peak of the growing season in the United Kingdom. Potato prices have risen by 40%, tomato prices by 60%, and iceberg lettuce prices by as much as 90%, as high temperatures and water shortages are making cultivation significantly more difficult.

Tim O’Malley, chief executive of the wholesale network Nationwide Produce, said openly: The situation is worse than the public realizes. We are running out of water.

Changes in the growing season are also affecting wildlife. Blackberries, plums and apples have already ripened in Suffolk. For birds and fruit-eating mammals, the hot and dry weather could mean an autumn famine.

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main photo: Alan Hughes / Llwyn-Onn Reservoir during drought/ CC BY-SA 2.0