July was driest month in southern England since records began
Southern England and Wales experienced their driest July in nearly 200 years, with record-breaking heat and sunshine. The drought has triggered water restrictions and raised concerns about food shortages and wildlife impact.
Why it matters
The extreme weather conditions highlight the accelerating impact of the climate crisis on infrastructure, agriculture, and public resources.
A lone ice cream van is surrounded by parched grassland at Blackheath Common in London, 3 August 2026. A lone ice cream van is surrounded by parched grassland at Blackheath Common in London, 3 August 2026. Extreme heat July was driest month in southern England since records began England and Wales provisionally record driest July in nearly 200 years, Met Office says
Prefer the Guardian on Google July 2026 was the driest month in southern England since records began nearly 200 years ago, the Met Office has said.
England and Wales also provisionally recorded their driest July since records began in 1836. Wales had its joint warmest July on record for mean temperature, and England recorded its second warmest July.
The Met Office said the “remarkable conditions” this year came amid a summer marked by multiple heat records.
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