A drought was officially declared in Norfolk on 29 July 2025, following very low rainfall and high temperatures that made it one of the hottest summers in history1. The county remains under an Anglian Water hosepipe ban, which began on 11 July1.
The National Drought Group is now meeting weekly to address the intensifying situation, and the drought is still set to stay despite the county recently experiencing its first rainfall in weeks1. The declaration came during a summer of heatwaves and drought that has since given way to the threat of flooding: the Met Office issued two thunderstorm warnings for Norfolk, with heavy showers and thunderstorms expected to bring intense downpours and surface-water flooding until 10pm on 26 August1.
The first thunderstorm alert covers large parts of the county, but King's Lynn, Fakenham and the entirety of the Norfolk coast were not set to be affected. A second warning, due to last between 6am and 10pm on 27 August, was to affect King's Lynn, Downham Market and Hunstanton1.
| Warning | Period | Areas affected |
|---|---|---|
| First thunderstorm warning | Until 10pm, 26 August | Large parts of Norfolk; King's Lynn, Fakenham and the Norfolk coast not set to be affected |
| Second thunderstorm warning | 6am to 10pm, 27 August | King's Lynn, Downham Market and Hunstanton |
A Met Office spokesman said of the second warning:
"Many places will miss these, but where they do occur they may be intense with 20mm to 30mm of rain falling in less than an hour and perhaps 40mm to 50mm in two to three hours in a few spots, leading to some surface water flooding."
The spokesman added that large hail and frequent lightning were also possible, and that the showers and thunderstorms would drift northwards and ease during the evening1.
Why it matters for households
Norfolk households are affected by two overlapping situations. The drought declaration of 29 July and the Anglian Water hosepipe ban that began on 11 July remain in place, and the National Drought Group is meeting weekly as the situation intensifies1. At the same time, the Met Office warned that intense downpours could cause surface-water flooding in parts of the county on 26 and 27 August, with 20mm to 30mm of rain possible in less than an hour and 40mm to 50mm in two to three hours in a few spots, along with large hail and frequent lightning1. The two warnings cover different areas of the county, so which one applies depends on where a household is1. How a drought is declared in England, and what each stage means, is set out in the guide to how drought is declared in England; practical household background is in the heatwaves and drought guide and the heatwaves and drought hub. Water company drought plans and the public's say in them are covered in water company drought plans, and a water shortage and hosepipe ban checklist sets out what households may need during restrictions.
What happens next
The National Drought Group is meeting weekly to address the intensifying situation1. The hosepipe ban remains in force, and the drought is still set to stay1. The second thunderstorm warning was due to last until 10pm on 27 August1. No end date for the drought or the hosepipe ban has been reported.
Drought Stages in England
