- An amber extreme heat warning has been issued for large parts of England on Thursday, with temperatures potentially reaching 38C. The warning, issued by the Met Office, will be in place from 9am to midnight and covers London, most of the Midlands, parts of the South East, Yorkshire & the Humber, and the East of England.
- The fifth heatwave is starting, with temperatures up to 36C possible on Thursday. To break the record for the most heatwaves in a year, the UK would need several more periods of intense heat; nine separate heatwave spells were recorded last year, as well as in 1992 and 1933.
- The UK has had its driest July in 190 years, with only 5% of expected rainfall so far this month. Almost three-quarters of England and around 45 million people are now officially in drought.
- The New Forest fire started after a van caught fire near Ringwood and spread to heathland. Crews, using a police drone and seven fire engines, managed to contain it overnight. The A31 is closed until further notice.
As England braces for its fifth heatwave of the summer, the Met Office has issued an amber extreme heat warning, predicting temperatures could soar to 38C on Thursday. The warning is effective from 9am to midnight and covers major areas including London and the Midlands.12
The heatwave is expected to have significant impacts on health and social care services, with alerts in place across all regions except the North East. The Met Office has advised residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay out of the sun, and avoid exercise during peak hours from 11am to 3pm.
This summer has already seen the driest July in 190 years, with only 5% of expected rainfall recorded so far this month. Almost three-quarters of England is now officially in drought, affecting around 45 million people. The current heatwave follows weeks of high temperatures and low rainfall, leading to visible changes in the landscape.3
The peak of the heatwave is forecast for Thursday, with temperatures reaching 36C in some areas. The Met Office data indicates that the UK may need to endure several more heatwaves to break the record of nine heatwave spells recorded in previous years, including 1992 and 1933.
“The warning covers London, the Midlands, and parts of the South East, Yorkshire & the Humber, and the East of England, from 9am to midnight. Meanwhile, the UK has had its driest July in 190 years, with nearly three-quarters of England and around 45 million people now officially in drought.”
