Temperatures are set to climb to 35C in south-east England on Wednesday, marking the fourth heatwave of the summer, according to the Met Office. The amber heat health alert covers the East Midlands, East of England, South East and London, while a yellow alert remains for Yorkshire, the Humber, West Midlands and South West. The alerts will be in place from 9am on Tuesday 28 July to 9am on Thursday 30 July.
Heatwave Returns to Southeast
The Met Office is predicting temperatures will reach 29C to 30C extensively throughout the South East on Tuesday, and are anticipated to surge as high as 35C across south-eastern England on Wednesday before subsiding. This marks the fourth occasion this summer that temperatures have climbed to heatwave thresholds, with record-breaking figures for the month in both May and June, alongside another substantial hot spell during mid-July.
July has been 3C above average throughout the UK, based on provisional Met Office statistics for the month thus far, potentially placing it amongst the warmest three or four Julys on record.
Dry Conditions and Drought
Meanwhile, southern England has received merely 1% of its typical July precipitation, while England has seen 5% and the UK overall 20%, the Met Office reports. Certain locations have experienced weeks without rainfall – including Wisley in Surrey which has endured 40 successive dry days. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) stated it has been implementing measures to reduce the effects of drought on the charity's flagship Wisley garden, through mulching, drought-tolerant planting, and prioritising watering where required to guarantee productive crops can be gathered.
Soaring temperatures and prolonged dry spells have triggered hosepipe bans affecting 23 million customers, while water companies not yet imposing restrictions are urging households to cut back on usage, and drought has been officially declared across large parts of Wales.
Impacts on Agriculture and Water Supplies
Agricultural leaders are demanding greater resilience to climate instability as arable farmers brace for yet another "difficult and expensive harvest" following weather extremes throughout 2024 and 2025, encompassing both drought and flooding, with mounting pressure on fruit and vegetable yields and animal feed supplies. The National Farmers' Union is pushing for a more flexible system for drawing water from the environment, alongside measures to simplify the construction of reservoirs on farmland.
Wildfire Risk Across the UK
Britain is also preparing for further wildfire outbreaks, with a Met Office assessment for this week indicating that by Wednesday, fires could be exceptionally severe if ignited across parts of London, the South East and eastern England, owing to the scorching, arid conditions. The third heatwave in mid-July left fire crews tackling 19 significant blazes simultaneously across England and Wales, while the Cairngorms in Scotland have been ravaged by a major wildfire.
Devastating fires have swept through mainland Europe this week, with 220,000 residents forced to flee their homes in south-west France and 116,000 evacuated in Spain. London Fire Brigade reported it had experienced a hectic weekend, attending over 1,300 call-outs including grassland blazes, building fires and retrieving an individual from the Thames, while urging the public to steer clear of disposable barbecues, properly dispose of smoking materials and place rubbish in bins or carry it home to prevent sparking wildfires.
Throughout the UK – and Europe, the globe's most rapidly warming continent – residents are confronting the increasing threat of severe weather conditions such as heatwaves and droughts, driven by man-made climate change, predominantly resulting from the combustion of fossil fuels.
Official Warnings and Advice
Met Office deputy chief forecaster Gregory Wolverson said: "This is a short-lived spell of heat, but temperatures will climb quickly through the first half of the week, particularly in the South East. By Wednesday, some areas could see temperatures in the mid-30Cs, and while the heat will not be widespread across the whole of the UK, it will be enough for parts of the South East to likely meet official heatwave criteria by Thursday. Elsewhere, the weather will be more changeable, and the change to cooler, more unsettled conditions will arrive sooner from the north and west, with a mix of sunshine and showers. Across northern areas, it is possible there will be heavier showers with a small risk of isolated thunderstorms through the week."
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) cautioned that climbing temperatures could pose greater health risks, particularly for those most vulnerable. The UKHSA stated: "The existing yellow heat-health alert for the East Midlands, East of England, South East and London has been upgraded to amber and will be in place from 9am on Tuesday, July 28 until 9am on Thursday, July 30. A yellow heat-health alert will remain in place for Yorkshire and the Humber, West Midlands and South West regions for the same time period. There is no alert in place for the North East and North West regions."
In the West Midlands, residents are advised to take precautions as yellow alert remains: stay hydrated, avoid peak heat hours, and check on vulnerable neighbours. The heat is expected to peak on Wednesday, before cooler conditions arrive from the north by Thursday.
