Overview
- Environment Agency modeling says 100% of normal winter rain would see most areas recover by spring 2026, 80% would leave most regions in drought except parts of the North West, and 60% would put the entire country in drought.
- The Met Office reports a higher-than-normal chance of a dry November–January period, though an average three-month rainfall total remains the most likely outcome.
- Yorkshire and the Midlands remain in drought and around eight million people still face hosepipe bans across Yorkshire, the Thames Valley, Sussex and Kent.
- England has logged below-average rainfall in eight of ten months so far this year, totaling about 83% of normal through October after the driest spring in 132 years and the hottest summer on record.
- Total reservoir stocks stand at 65.8% versus a 77.4% seasonal average as the government points to plans for nine new reservoirs and pipe upgrades to curb leakage.