Hosepipe bans across England are likely to continue over the winter months, the Environment Agency has warned.
It comes as the Met Office as predicted a higher likelihood of dry conditions from November to January.
Will
Lang, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said:
“While it’s not
possible to definitively forecast weather for the next three months, the
chances of a dry period are higher than normal.”
Winter hosepipe bans on the cards as England faces drought
Water minister warns prolonged dry weather poses risk to farming and the environment
Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Friday 14 November
2025 19:14 GMT
Hosepipe bans across England are likely to continue over the winter months, the Environment Agency has warned.
It comes as the Met Office as predicted a higher likelihood of dry conditions from November to January.
This means that England would experience even worse levels of drought next year. leading to significant pressures on the environment and a risk to crop yields.
Despite recent rainfall, the drought situation across the country is still precarious after this spring was the driest in 132 years and this summer has been the hottest since records began in 1884, with four heatwaves.
“There will be a drought next
year, unless we get sustained rainfall through the winter.
“The severity of that drought will depend both on the weather and the actions we take over winter following this very dry year.
“The
public have been brilliant in using a little less water this summer and
following the restrictions in some parts of the country.
- I would urge people to continue to be as efficient as possible with their water use this winter - even if it is raining outside.
- Our wildlife, our rivers and our public water supplies depend on it.”
The dry weather has impacted the breeding success of wetland birds,
great crested newts, natterjack toads and the migration patterns of eels
and salmon.
It has also led to trees, including ancient ones, becoming
severely stressed.. . .
She added:
“We continue
to work with the National Drought Group and water companies to maintain
supplies for communities across the country.
“Climate
change means we will face more frequent, severe droughts and flooding
in the years ahead.
- That’s why this government is taking decisive action to secure our long-term water resilience, which includes building nine new reservoirs and investing in new pipes to reduce leakage.”RELATED
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