England and Wales record driest July since 1836

England and Wales have recorded their driest July since records began in 1836, according to provisional figures released by the Met Office on August 3, 2026. Southern England experienced its driest month ever recorded, capping a summer of extreme weather that has seen multiple heatwaves and widespread drought declarations.

The statistics show England received just 10% of its average July rainfall, while Wales saw only 9%. Nineteen English counties recorded 1mm of rain or less for the entire month. The dryness surpassed the previous record set in July 1911. The month was also exceptionally hot and sunny, with southern England recording its hottest July on record and Wales experiencing its joint hottest. The UK as a whole saw its second hottest July. Furthermore, the UK, England, and Wales all recorded their sunniest Julys on record, with England and Wales experiencing their sunniest calendar month ever observed.

The abundant sunshine drove solar power generation to a new monthly record, providing 14.4% of all electricity in July, according to industry data. The prolonged heat, sunshine, and lack of rain have left more than half of England and all of Wales officially in drought....