Yorkshire has become the latest region to declare a drought after declining river flows and low groundwater levels amid one of the driest spring on record.
The Environment Agency (EA) said Yorkshire has moved from “prolonged dry weather” to “drought” status on Thursday.
Yorkshire is now the second region to declare drought conditions after officials in the north west of England did so at the end of May.
Yorkshire Water said the drought status does not immediately change the situation for customers but water restrictions – such as a hosepipe ban – are possible this summer unless the county sees “significant rainfall” in the coming months.
Claire Barrow, Yorkshire environment, planning and engagement manager at the Environment Agency, said: “Our climate is changing, and we had 22 days of almost no recorded rainfall in May.
A general view of Baitings Reservoir near Ripponden in the West Yorkshire Pennines with low water levels. Photo credit should read: Richard McCarthy/PA Wire“We are working with Yorkshire Water to make sure they enact their drought plans.
“We also encourage people to be aware of the environmental impacts of droughts as we enter the summer period and note the small steps we can all take to save water.”
Met Office statistics show that West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, East Yorkshire and South Yorkshire saw just 40 per cent, 43 per cent, 40 per cent and 41 per cent of the average rainfall for March, April and May.
This comes as temperatures are expected to exceed 27°C on Friday alongside the risk of thunderstorms.
Most of the UK will experience temperatures in the late teens and early twenties, but London will reach a high of 27°C on Friday, as will Cambridge and Maidstone while parts of East Anglia may even see 29°C, forecasters have said.
The Met Office also forecasts that in Peterborough, Chelmsford, Lincoln and Newark-on-Trent, temperatures will soar to 26°C.
Low water levels impact the Woodhead Reservoir where the normally covered bed is revealed on June 11, 2025. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)A period of continued warm and dry weather is then expected for the week ahead for most parts of the country.
While southern and central areas are yet to declare drought conditions, figures show that rainfall levels are well below normal levels.
Dwindling water levels
The Environment Agency says central and eastern England are at just 36 per cent of normal levels for June.
From the beginning of the month to 10 June, all regions bar the north west are below 50 per cent of their normal levels.
Yorkshire received 66 per cent of the long-term average May rainfall while England has experienced its driest spring since 1893.
Across the country, England only experienced 57 per cent of the long-term average rainfall for last month.
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Water Minister Emma Hardy said: “I am receiving regular updates from the Environment Agency.
“I’m doing everything in my power to hold Yorkshire Water to account to ensure we have the regular supply of water that is needed across the region.”
Last month, Thames Water warned it may have to restrict water usage if the dry weather continues.
Hosepipe bans are typically one of the first ways water companies seek to restrict usage when water supplies are running low.
Experts have told The i Paper that the UK is currently in a similar position as it was at this point in 2022, when six water companies introduced hosepipe bans in July, affecting around 20 million people.
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