Britain is experiencing a significant heatwave, with temperatures reaching as high as 34C in some areas. Racegoers at the Newmarket festival, despite dressing in summer attire, sought ways to stay cool, with many opting for beverages like Pimms and rosé.
Temperatures peaked at 28C at Newmarket on Saturday, where attendees used handheld fans and umbrellas for shade. The heat has led to the extension of yellow and amber heat health alerts across large parts of England and Wales. Amber alerts are in place for the West Midlands and South West, signaling potential significant impacts on health and social care services, including an increased risk of mortality, particularly among the elderly or those with pre-existing health conditions.
Yellow heat health alerts have been issued for the East Midlands, North West, South East, East of England, and London. These alerts are expected to remain in effect from Sunday morning through Wednesday evening.
Elsewhere in the country, temperatures hit a record 35.2C in Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire. The Met Office has indicated that temperatures are likely to remain above 30C in central and southern England and Wales throughout the weekend and into the following week. The focus of the heat is expected to shift towards western parts of the UK, with slightly cooler and cloudier conditions anticipated along eastern coastal areas.
Emergency services have warned of extreme wildfire risks over the weekend due to the dry conditions. The London Fire Brigade has urged the public to avoid using disposable barbecues. The Metropolitan Police have also advised against contacting them for non-emergencies due to an anticipated surge in calls, partly due to the hot weather and potential public gatherings.
In response to the prolonged dry spell and strain on water supplies, several water companies have implemented hosepipe bans. Southern Water introduced restrictions for approximately one million customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight starting Friday. Anglian Water followed suit, announcing a ban for over five million customers in the East of England, effective from Saturday morning.
Cambridge Water has also enacted a temporary ban for its 350,000 customers, marking the first time in three decades the company has introduced such a measure. South East Water was the first to implement a ban, starting July 3 for areas in Kent. These restrictions come after a record warm spring and successive heatwaves have put significant pressure on the UK's water systems, exacerbated by population increases and underinvestment in infrastructure.