Large areas of England and Wales are under an "exceptional" wildfire warning as a persistent heatwave drives temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), triggering health alerts and leading to hosepipe bans.
Natural England has indicated that three successive heatwaves and a lack of rainfall have created an elevated risk of wildfires across significant portions of the country. The most severe "exceptional" risk is concentrated in parts of the south Midlands and southern England, while large swathes of England and Wales are categorized as "very high" risk.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber and yellow heat health alerts from Sunday morning through Wednesday evening. An amber alert, signaling potential significant impacts on health and social care services, is in effect for the West Midlands and South West England. Officials caution of a possible increase in mortality among individuals over 65 and those with pre-existing health conditions. Yellow alerts, with similar potential impacts including a rise in water-related incidents, cover the North West, East Midlands, East of England, London, and the South East.
In response to the heightened fire danger, the London Fire Brigade has urged the public to refrain from using disposable barbecues over the weekend. The brigade has raised London's fire risk from "elevated" to "extreme" from Saturday through Monday due to high temperatures and strong winds. The Metropolitan Police have also advised the public to call emergency services only in cases of immediate danger or ongoing crime, recommending online reporting for other incidents.
The Met Office forecasts that temperatures will continue to exceed 30C in parts of England and Wales for several consecutive days. While thunderstorms may develop in southern areas from Monday, most regions are expected to remain dry and sunny. The heat is anticipated to gradually shift westward, offering some relief to eastern coastal areas. Parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland might experience heatwave conditions by midweek, though northern Scotland is expected to remain cooler due to a cold front.
This year has already seen significant weather records broken, with temperatures reaching 35C on six separate days, surpassing the previous record of five days set in 1976 and 2020. It is also the first year to record temperatures of 35C or higher across three calendar months and temperatures of 34C or higher on nine dates.
The heatwave is projected to begin subsiding by Thursday as a shift in weather patterns is expected to end the prolonged dry spell, with an increasing risk of showers and thunderstorms, particularly in southern parts of the UK.
The increased fire risk follows recent incidents, including wildfires near Stratford station that led to its temporary closure and evacuation on Friday night, requiring 60 firefighters to tackle the blaze. Last month, a large wildfire on Tintwistle Moor in Derbyshire burned for up to 24 hours.
Tragically, three people have died in water-related incidents in recent days. The body of an 18-year-old man was recovered from near a weir at Darley Abbey Mills, near Derby, after two teenagers encountered difficulties. Another 18-year-old man died at Dovestone Reservoir in Oldham on Friday. In Scotland, the body of a woman was recovered from the Falls of Falloch after she got into difficulty in the water.
Water companies are implementing hosepipe bans across various regions, including eastern England, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, and Kent. Anglian Water's restrictions affect five million customers, while South East Water's ban impacts approximately 850,000 people in Kent. Cambridge Water will introduce its first hosepipe ban in three decades for its 350,000 customers starting Friday. Affinity Water's ban will affect nearly four million customers in London and the South East, also commencing Friday. These restrictions underscore the intensified pressure on water supplies following successive heatwaves and the warmest spring on record for England and Wales.