A new hosepipe ban has come into force, affecting 1.4 million customers of Wessex Water across Bath, Somerset, Dorset, and Wiltshire, as the Met Office warns that heavy rain could bring localised flooding to parts of the UK.
The ban, which begins on Tuesday, is the first such restriction imposed by the company in 50 years, since the summer of 1976. Wessex Water cited increased demand during the dry weather and longer-term forecasts that require resources to be protected for customers and the environment.
This development comes as many Londoners woke to wet roads and rain-covered cars after almost a month without precipitation, a sight that brought relief to some but also highlighted the severity of the ongoing drought.
Rain forecast brings flood risk
The Met Office has predicted that some areas will experience their 'first meaningful rain for a long time' in the coming days, following weeks of intense heat and dry conditions that have led to water shortages across the country. Showers are expected on Tuesday in the north, particularly the North West, with another area of rain moving into the South West by the evening, according to deputy chief forecaster Mike Silverstone.
'Thursday will be a day of heavy showers across much of the UK, while some of these will be heavy, some areas will miss them altogether,' Silverstone said. 'As some of these showers could be intense, there is a chance of some surface water flooding as the rain falls on very dry and hard ground.'
By Friday, conditions are expected to turn drier again through the weekend, with more rain forecast next week. This change follows the UK's fifth heatwave of the summer, during which the hottest day of the year was recorded at Kew Gardens, London, on Thursday, with temperatures reaching 38.1°C.
Drought conditions persist
Despite the forecast rain, widespread drought conditions are unlikely to end, placing severe pressure on wildlife, farmers, transport, emergency services infrastructure, and water resources. Among the driest areas are Wisley in Surrey, which has recorded 61 consecutive dry days since June 17, and Heathrow in Greater London, which has measured 55 consecutive dry days since June 23, according to Met Office data.
The dry spell has also fuelled wildfires, including a blaze in Stourbridge, West Midlands, which destroyed 19 homes. The National Fire Chiefs Council reported on Monday that 1,132 wildfires have been recorded across England and Wales in 2026 so far, a record high for the period between January and this time of year.
On Friday evening, millions of people in England and Wales received a mobile alert warning of a 'very high risk of wildfires nationally'. Fire services have urged the public to call 999 only for genuine emergencies.
With more than 27 million people across England now under hosepipe restrictions, the coming rain may offer some relief to parched land and firefighters, but the underlying drought conditions remain a significant concern.
