Satellite imagery released by the European Union highlights the severity of the ongoing drought in the United Kingdom, with vast swathes of southern England appearing brown from space. The images, captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-3 and Sentinel-2 satellites, show a dramatic difference in land coloration between August 2025 and August 2026.
Comparison images of the south of England taken on August 15, 2025, and August 13, 2026, illustrate the transformation. While the 2025 images show large areas covered in green grass, the 2026 images depict a landscape predominantly brown, indicating severe dryness. A specific before-and-after comparison of London's Hyde Park starkly illustrates the impact, with the iconic green space appearing almost entirely scorched in the more recent photograph.
The United Kingdom has experienced one of the driest spells on record this summer. Several locations have recorded exceptionally long periods without rainfall. Wisley in Surrey, for example, has reported 61 consecutive dry days, while Heathrow and Odiham have each gone 55 days without significant rain. Other areas in southern England have experienced dry spells exceeding six weeks.
As a consequence of these extended dry conditions, officials have declared that 71.3 percent of England is now officially in drought. According to the European Drought Observatory (EDO), at the end of July 2026, 25% of England was classified as being in 'Alert' conditions and 65% in 'Warning'.
While some rain is forecast for the coming week, the Met Office advises caution regarding its potential impact. Showers are expected rather than prolonged, steady rainfall, meaning that while some areas may receive significant amounts, others might see very little. Additionally, heavy downpours can run off dry ground, failing to soak deeply into the soil and replenish reserves effectively.
