英国气象局宣布，2026年7月成为英国南部近200年以来最干旱的月份 [1]。英格兰7月仅录得6.5毫米降雨，仅为长期气象平均值的10%，远低于1911年创下的13.4毫米纪录 [1]。威尔士同期降雨9.3毫米，也仅为历史平均水平的9% [1]。英格兰和威尔士创造了自1836年记录开始以来最干旱的7月纪录 [1]。
极端干旱与热浪叠加造成严峻局面。19个郡7月降雨量少于或等于1毫米 [1]。7月是今年第六个连续月份气温高于平均水平 [1]，其中威尔士录得该月历史同期最高平均气温，英格兰则排名第二 [1]。英国气象局气候学家艾米·多尔蒂博士表示："创纪录的干旱、异常高温和前所未有的阳照时数的结合，造就了我们历史记录中最值得关注的夏季月份之一" [1]。
这场水文危机已波及广泛人口和经济。英格兰40%的人口处于限水令下 [1]，英格兰和威尔士各有一半地区被宣布进入官方干旱状态 [1]。全国农民联盟警告，干旱可能导致英国某些食品短缺 [1]。区域外，欧洲亦感受到这一极端气候影响——罗马尼亚的多瑙河流量下降至每秒1500立方米，不足其7月平均流量的三分之一 [1]。
The UK Met Office has declared July 2026 the driest month in southern England in nearly 200 years of record-keeping.[1] England and Wales both set records for their driest July since 1836, with England receiving just 6.5 millimetres of rainfall—only 10 percent of the long-term meteorological average and substantially below the previous record of 13.4 millimetres set in 1911.[1] Wales recorded 9.3 millimetres of rain, representing merely 9 percent of its historical average.[1] The extreme dryness has prompted official drought declarations across half of England and the entirety of Wales, while water restrictions have been imposed on 40 percent of England's population through hosepipe bans.[1]
The severe drought has coincided with exceptional heat and sunshine.[1] Wales experienced its joint warmest July on record for mean temperature, while England recorded its second warmest July.[1] July marked the sixth consecutive month this year with above-average temperatures.[1] Dr Amy Doherty of the Met Office stated: "The combination of record-breaking dryness, exceptional warmth and unprecedented sunshine has delivered one of the most notable summer months in our historical records."[1]
The crisis has triggered broader concerns beyond the immediate region. The National Farmers' Union has warned that the drought could lead to shortages of certain foods in Britain.[1] Meanwhile, the effects of the extreme conditions extend to continental Europe, where the Danube's water flow in Romania has fallen to 1,500 cubic metres per second—less than a third of its July average.[1]