- The prime minister will chair a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee on Wednesday in response to extreme heat, which has plunged many parts of Britain into drought.
- This will be the second Cobra meeting this year on heatwaves, following one in June.
- High temperatures continue across the UK, with 33C forecast on Wednesday and up to 38C on Thursday.
- The Met Office has issued rare amber “extreme heat” warnings for parts of England, and the UK is on course for its hottest summer on record.
- The government urged the public to follow UK health security agency heat alerts, drink plenty of fluids, and check on vulnerable people.
- Firefighters have responded to 966 wildfires across England and Wales this year, with July the busiest month on record.
- Nearly three-quarters of England and the whole of Wales are in drought, and the Environment Agency reports 71.3% of England is experiencing “flash drought”.
- Southern Water has applied for a rare non-domestic drought order that would ban businesses from non-essential water use, affecting 165,000 people in the Southampton West supply area.
The UK is facing unprecedented heat and drought conditions, prompting a Cobra emergency meeting chaired by the Prime Minister. With temperatures expected to soar to 38C, the Met Office has issued rare amber warnings for London and the southeast, indicating extreme heat risks.45
This summer marks the UK's hottest on record, with the country experiencing its fifth heatwave. Nearly 71.3% of England and all of Wales are currently in drought, following the driest July on record. The Environment Agency has reported that 165,000 people in the Southampton West supply area may face restricted water supplies due to an exceptional lack of rain.
Firefighters have battled 966 wildfires across England and Wales this year, with July being the busiest month on record, highlighting the severe impact of the heatwave. The government has urged the public to heed health alerts and stay hydrated, especially vulnerable populations.7
As the situation escalates, Southern Water has applied for a non-domestic drought order to restrict non-essential water use, underscoring the critical state of water resources in the region.1011
“The Met Office has issued rare amber extreme heat warnings for parts of England, and the UK is on course for its hottest summer on record. Nearly three-quarters of England and all of Wales are in drought, with Southern Water applying for a drought order affecting 165,000 people.”
The Guardian
