Hampshire and Isle of Wight in prolonged dry weather

News story

Hampshire and Isle of Wight in prolonged dry weather

The Environment Agency听has changed the听status听of听parts of听Hampshire and听the听Isle of Wight听to prolonged dry weather听

From:: Environment Agency
Published:: 10 July 2026

Part of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will be in prolonged dry weather from 10 July

The Environment Agency is moving parts of听Hampshire听and the Isle of Wight听into听a听state of prolonged dry weather听after England鈥檚 warmest spring on record.听

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight rely on the River Test for its water supply.听A听state of prolonged dry weather means the Environment Agency is positioned to听consider any requests about water usage while protecting this rare, sensitive, chalk stream and the environment that relies on it.听听

Moving to听prolonged dry weather听status听on Friday 10 July听also听means the Environment Agency听is best placed to react to any incidents in the environment cause by hot temperatures听and impact on the water.听听

Richard O鈥機allaghan,听Environment Planning & Engagement听manager听at the Environment Agency听said:听听听

The changing climate has seen听a听whiplash听from an exceptionally wet start听of听the year to prolonged dry weather.听

The pressures on the environment will become heavier. The Environment Agency is positioning itself to get ahead of that.听

We are ready to tackle听any听incidents during this time and听make sure that the needs of the environment听are听balanced听against demands for more water from our most sensitive waterways.听听

The dry spring, early听summer听and听high temperatures听in听2025听affected听water resources and the environment in Hampshire, Isle of听Wight听and Sussex. This led to the Environment Agency declaring a situation of prolonged dry weather on 10听July, lasting six months.听

The National Drought Group - which includes the Met Office, government, regulators, water companies, the National Farmers鈥� Union, Canal & River Trust, anglers, and conservation experts 鈥撎齣s听monitoring听the situation and will next meet on听20听July.听

As regulator, the Environment Agency will听decide听any drought permit requests. However, Defra and the Secretary of State will decide on any applications for drought orders with the Environment Agency听giving听technical advice assessing the needs of people and the environment.听

The Environment Agency supports the Water Efficiency Campaign which launched this month: . This is a听campaign听which our science and evidence helped听make it听possible.听

There are simple ways people can help save water, including听low-flow showerheads,听running washing machines with the recommended load and not pre-rinsing dishes.听

叠补肠办驳谤辞耻苍诲听

For the Environment Agency鈥檚 Solent and South Downs operational area, the monthly rainfall听figures听and their long-term average for 2026 were:听听

January:听186mm (193%)听听
February:听143mm (212%)听听
March:听33mm (58%)听听
April:听9.4mm (17%)听听
May:听32mm (63%)听听

扒哥吃瓜