Satellite imagery shows the toll taken on the UK landscape from this year’s long hot summer.

BBC Verify analysis of satellite data shows where in the UK has been most affected by heatwaves and a lack of rain.

We can see parts of the country are suffering from “vegetation stress” where the development and growth of plants, grass and crops can be severely affected.

Experts have said the combination of next-to-no rainfall and prolonged hot weather is likely to cause significant issues for the farming industry and have an impact on agriculture and food supplies.

Scientists also warn the UK is facing a growing risk of water shortages in the decades ahead, driven by human-caused climate change and increased demand.

A comparison of satellite imagery of the UK in May and July shows the stark differences in plant health. To assess this, we have used something called the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) – a measure of how green and healthy vegetation is.

The biggest changes are visible across Conwy, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Merseyside, where areas that were previously a patchwork of green fields and grassland are now covered by light brown tones, indicating extensive vegetation stress.

Elsewhere, the data highlights more localised hotspots of stress around Peterborough, Lincolnshire and parts of mid and east Devon, where fields also appear significantly browner than a year ago.

This is in stark contrast to upland Britain – including much of Scotland’s highlands and the Welsh mountains – which has remained closer to normal or, in some places, appear slightly greener.

Vegetation turning brown, even on this scale, does not mean the plants have disappeared or died, as grass, shrubs and some trees can recover once rainfall returns, provided their root systems remain intact.

However, falling groundwater levels during prolonged dry periods can also remove an important backup water source for trees and other deep-rooted vegetation.

And perhaps counter-intuitively, prolonged dry weather can raise the risk of flash flooding when it eventually does rain. That is because parched, rock-hard ground may struggle to absorb water at first, so some rainwater may simply run off the surface instead.

Dr Jess Neumann, an associate professor at the University of Reading, said while it is not unusual to see some browning in the summer, the “large expanses of dry grass in parks, lawns and gardens” are particularly noticeable this year.

Neumann added that British plants are “not adapted to prolonged summer droughts and hot weather”, unlike in places like the Mediterranean.

This summer’s “flash” drought is also notable for how quickly it has developed, given in early spring river flows, soil moisture and reservoir levels were generally around or above normal following a very wet start to 2026.

The recent repeated heatwaves have sapped moisture from soils and vegetation via evaporation, which has in turn increased demand for water for farming, industry and household use.

“The drought could have a direct knock-on effect on food supplies,” said Dr Pauline Scheelbeek, associate professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

She added that it is possible there will be “less British produce and at higher prices in our supermarkets” because less reliable access to water may reduce crop yields.

Another impact on UK agriculture is low grass stocks forcing some farmers to use winter feed for their livestock during the summer leaving supplies short for later in the year.

Prof Michael Singer from Cardiff University has expressed concern about the effect on wildlife, as “many animals and plants in the UK are not well adapted to extreme drought conditions.”

While the impact of the lack of rainfall is clear on plant life, the data shows reservoirs have not been as significantly affected thanks to a particularly wet winter.

Satellite imagery shows the banks of the Clywedog reservoir in mid-Wales are more exposed this July compared with last year.

Low reservoir levels have not been the primary cause of recent hosepipe bans and drought declarations – which are ultimately triggered by a lack of rain – across large parts of England and Wales.

But reservoirs are still lower than is typical for this time of year.

The EA has reported that reservoir storage is now at 75% in England, which is below the long-term average of 83% for the time of year but higher than during last year’s drought.

Reservoirs are vital for water supply because they store excess rainwater from wetter months and hold it for use during drier summer periods. They are one of the UK’s three main water sources, alongside rivers and water from deep underground.

Reservoirs are especially important in northern England, Wales and Scotland. South-east England relies more heavily on groundwater.

Levels are lowest in the South West, with Wimbleball and Blagdon classed as exceptionally low. Reservoirs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are all reasonably stocked for the time of year despite the hot weather.

The widespread restrictions on water use have raised questions about how effectively resources are being managed, and whether the UK is prepared for drier summers expected with climate change.

Graphics by Jess Carr

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