Drought officially declared for Oxfordshire following weeks of exceptionally hot and dry weather

Oxfordshire and the wider Thames Valley region are among seven areas across southern England to have been officially declared in drought.

The other regions now in drought are East Anglia, Hertfordshire and London, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, the West Midlands and Wessex.

It comes following an exceptionally hot summer that has brought three back-to-back heatwaves, and included 12 consecutive days with temperatures exceeding 30C.

According to the Environment Agency, just seven per cent of the average July rainfall has fallen across the affected areas, and there is no significant rain currently forecast in the coming weeks.

Met Office chief meteorologist Will Lang said: “Many areas have received very little or no rainfall throughout July, extending a period of below-average rainfall that has persisted across parts of the country since spring.

“While there are indications of occasional unsettled spells during the first part of August, bringing the chance of rain to some locations, there is currently little sign of the widespread, sustained rainfall that would be needed to make a significant difference to the areas most affected by the dry weather.

“The Met Office continues to work closely with the Environment Agency and partners across the water sector, providing expert meteorological information and forecasts to support drought monitoring, planning and response activities.”

This is the third time in the past five years that a drought has been declared, following previous declarations in 2022 and 2025.

Helen Wakeham, director of water at the Environment Agency and chair of the National Drought Group, said: “The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it.

“A second consecutive summer drought is an exceptionally serious situation and one that will have long-lasting impacts on our environment, wildlife and the economy.

“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.”

Thames Water introduced a hosepipe ban covering Banbury and much of Oxfordshire on Thursday, July 23.

For more information about the drought, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/drought-declared-in-half-of-england