Drought now covers 71.3% of England after the East Midlands, Lincolnshire & Northamptonshire, Kent & East Sussex, and Solent & the South Downs were moved into drought status, leaving 45 million people in affected areas and more than 27 million under water-use restrictions. The government said all regions are under pressure, with the North East and Yorkshire shifted to prolonged dry weather and no area now classed as normal. The rapid deterioration follows the driest July in 190 years and rainfall at just 5% of average so far in August, with another heatwave forecast and temperatures expected to reach the mid-30s Celsius in some places. Reservoir storage has fallen to 69%, river flows are mostly below normal, irrigation restrictions are tightening in East Anglia, and low water levels are disrupting farming, navigation and wildlife. Water Minister Emma Hardy said the government is stepping up support for farmers and expects water companies to curb leakage, while the Environment Agency warned conditions will keep worsening without significant and sustained rainfall.