'Flash drought' declared: What next?

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Water companies told the BBC they have no plans currently to put hosepipe bans in place. Agencies are pumping water into the River Severn and rescuing fish from dried up watercourses. BBC's West Midlands science, environment and rural affairs correspondent, David Gregory-Kumar, said the drought had happened quickly, in meteorological terms. "We've had about 5% of the average rainfall you'd expect for July 2026. That is obviously extremely low, and that is why the drought has been declared." A so-called 'Flash Drought' has been declared for the West Midlands, which includes Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The Environment Agency told the BBC it is topping up the River Severn in Shropshire with the equivalent of 8- Olympic-sized swimming pools, from Llyn Clywedog, Lake Vyrnwy and the Shropshire Groundwater Scheme, in order to ensure sufficient levels downstream for drinking water abstraction and agricultural irrigation. Tammy Gooding reports. Image credit: BBC Weather Watchers/Borderwalks