The combination of less rainfall and prolonged high temperatures – meaning more evaporation of moisture – has sharply depleted water reserves in soils, vegetation and rivers.
The EA said these conditions have led to “flash drought”. This is where drought conditions begin suddenly rather than over several months or years.
Today’s announcement means the drought has happened three times in the last five years – 2022, 2025 and now 2026.
While drought occurs naturally, scientists say climate change is increasing the risk, with higher summer temperatures causing soils to dry out more quickly.
This could lead to more severe and longer-lasting drought, with significant impacts on wildlife and farming.
Paul Tompkins, vice-president of the National Farmers Union of England and Wales (NFU), said: “Farmers and producers have always had to deal with the weather, but what they are experiencing now is climate change. More extreme conditions are making it harder, riskier and more expensive to produce the country’s food.”
He said the issue of drought is something that “should matter to everyone” because it affects the country’s food security.
Some areas of the country have now entered the fourth heatwave of the year.
Amber and yellow heat health alerts have come into force across parts of the UK, with temperatures potentially reaching 35C in parts of south-east England on Wednesday.
Hot, dry weather has created ideal conditions for wildfires to spread. The National Fire Chiefs Council has warned that the wildfire risk “remains high across the UK”.
It said that more than 200 wildfire incidents have been reported in England and Wales in the last two weeks.
The Met Office separately announced that, following verification processes, the new temperature record for June last month was even higher than previously expected.
The previously reported figure of 37.7C in Lingwood, Norfolk, on 26 June 2026 has been updated to 38.0C – beating the UK’s previous June high of 35.6C.
Additional reporting by Jess Carr
