Britain is bracing for another heatwave, with temperatures expected to hit 35C (95F) and triggering amber health alerts in several regions, including London, the East Midlands, and the east and south-east of England. This marks the fourth heatwave of the year and comes as parts of the country have experienced 43 consecutive days without significant rainfall, creating conditions ripe for "exceptionally severe" wildfires.
The arid landscape has raised concerns about fires, particularly in southern and eastern England. The Met Office has warned that any fires that ignite could be particularly severe due to the dry conditions. A surge of heat from North Africa is contributing to the high temperatures, following similar extreme heat in France and Spain.
One garden in Surrey has recorded 43 days without rain, nearing the national record of 45 days set in 1976. Fire services across England and Wales have already responded to over 700 wildfires this year, with more than 200 occurring in the past two weeks. Currently, eight wildfires are active across the UK, and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) warns of an elevated risk of further ignitions.
IMAGE1 Fire services have deployed significant resources to combat blazes, such as a major incident at Tintwistle Moor. While the number of wildfires in England and Wales is currently lower than last year, fire chiefs caution that prolonged dry spells increase the risk of rapid spread. Large-scale wildfires in mainland Europe, which have led to mass evacuations in France and Italy, serve as a stark reminder of the threat posed by these conditions.
Although UK wildfires are typically smaller than those seen in southern Europe, the NFCC notes that climate change is increasing the likelihood of larger, more complex incidents. "The scenes we're seeing across parts of Europe are a stark reminder of what a changing climate means for fire and rescue services," said Phil Garrigan, chairman of the NFCC. "We are not seeing fires of that scale in the UK today, but the science tells us we should expect larger, more frequent and more complex wildfires in the future."
IMAGE2 Authorities are urging the public to exercise extreme caution to prevent fires, highlighting that many are caused by human activity. Simple measures such as safe cigarette disposal, avoiding disposable barbecues in open spaces, and taking litter home can significantly reduce the risk. Firefighters recently tackled a significant field blaze in Cambridgeshire, which generated large plumes of smoke and threatened nearby homes.
IMAGE4 IMAGE5 The prolonged dry weather has also led to critically low water levels in reservoirs and visible receding water in lakes and river basins across the country. This has had a noticeable impact on green spaces, with grass turning brown in areas like Blackheath, London, and affecting golf courses and cricket fields.
IMAGE6 IMAGE7 The current heatwave is expected to end by Thursday, with cooler conditions forecast for the weekend. Provisional data suggests July may be among the top three or four hottest Julys on record for the UK. The Met Office indicated that heatwave thresholds may need to be adjusted to reflect the impact of climate change on consistently high temperatures.
Wildlife is also struggling with the extreme heat, with animal rescue centers reporting an increase in admissions of heat-stressed animals, including hedgehogs and foxes. The RSPCA has urged the public to provide clean water and shaded areas for wildlife.
IMAGE9 IMAGE10 IMAGE11 In mainland Europe, the impact of similar heat and dry conditions has been devastating, with hundreds of thousands evacuated in France and Spain due to large-scale wildfires. France has experienced one of its most destructive events since World War II, with over 240 properties destroyed and firefighting efforts complicated by returning high temperatures.