The NDG (National Drought Group) met on 20 July and heard that the recent extreme weather is having a severe impact on our environment and affecting water supplies and food production.
Eight areas across England are now in prolonged dry weather status, including: East Anglia, West Midlands, Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire and London, Wessex, Thames, Solent and the South Downs.
The third heatwave of the year saw temperatures exceed 30°C for 12 consecutive days. England’s three warmest springs on record have now occurred in 2024, 2025 and 2026, with nine of the ten warmest springs since 1884 taking place within the last 20 years.
Dry conditions have continued into summer. In July, England has received just 3% of the long-term average rainfall, with the south and east of the country recording no rain at all, marking the longest dry spell since the mid-1990s. Reservoir storage for England is currently at 78.8%, around 5% lower than long-term average.
The prolonged hot weather has brought harvest forward and there is an increased risk of combine and wildfire incidents.
Read: Threat of wildfire on farm land requires urgent policy changes
Seven water companies have now implemented or announced future temporary use bans for 23 million customers. In East Anglia, some farmers have also had to stop abstracting water from local rivers due to reduced flows caused by the lack of rainfall.
Extreme weather
“To help farmers adapt, we must strengthen resilience to climate volatility.”
NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins
NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins said: “Farmers and growers across the country are working around the clock to harvest crops which have come early, keep fruit and vegetables watered, and care for their livestock.
“Parts of the country, particularly in the east and south, have seen exceptionally low rainfall this spring and summer, creating real challenges for farm businesses. For many arable farmers, this could be another difficult and expensive harvest after extreme weather impacts in both 2024 and 2025 which saw both drought and flood.
“To help farmers adapt, we must strengthen resilience to climate volatility. That means a more responsive abstraction licensing system, a consistent positive approach in planning to make building reservoirs easier, which will lead to investment in on-farm water storage.”
The NFU has urged urgent action on water resilience as the threat posed by extreme weather grows.
The Environment Agency continues to warn of the possibility of a ‘flash drought’, which can be brought on by a sudden combination of very low rainfall and hot temperatures.
The Met Office forecast indicates that conditions are likely to remain dry for the rest of July, but the temperatures are likely to cool.
National Drought Group Chair and Director of Water at the Environment Agency Helen Wakeham said: “Dry weather depletes our water, while the hot conditions mean we use more of it. This is a difficult combination, and we are seeing the effects on our farmers, our wildlife, and the amount available for public and business use.
“All sectors are taking action, and we are grateful to the public for following the restrictions, where in place, to make sure there is enough water for everyone this summer.
“We want everyone to stay safe and hydrated during the hot weather but every drop we can save is a drop more for nature and agriculture.”
Visit our dry weather information page to stay up to date.
More information is also available in the latest EA drought briefing.
Advice for farmers
In June, the EA published its latest edition of irrigation prospects for 2026, indicating that the situation is moderate to good, but parts of East Anglia and the West Midlands are projected to be moderate to poor.
For those facing issues with flooding and adverse conditions from the recent high rainfall, help and support is available via our adverse weather toolkit.
