Parts of southern England are basking in a fourth heatwave this week, with high temperatures set to continue until the weekend.
The Environment Agency have warned that swathes of the country are now officially in drought as a result of very low rainfall, with farmers warning of low produce.
The latest UK heatwave peaked on Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 35.2C at Writtle in Essex, with the coming days unlikely to bring any rain for the south of England.
Amber heat health alerts were issued from 9am on Wednesday to 9am on Thursday for the East Midlands, London, the south-east and east of England. Yorkshire and the Humber, the West Midlands and south-west England are all under yellow alerts.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a warning of possible “significant impacts” on health and social care services, including a rise in deaths among the elderly or people with health conditions, and an increase in drownings.
Three heatwaves have already been recorded across the country since May, with temperatures breaking records in June, as the UK faces more extreme weather fuelled by human-caused climate change.
On Wednesday, temperatures reached 33C in London and surrounding counties, with highs of 25C recorded in Manchester and 26C in Cardiff.
The hot weather will continue into Thursday but will remain cooler in the North, with highs of 19C recorded in Belfast and 18C in Glasgow.
Forecasters are expecting this week’s heat to be a “North-South split”, with clouds and outbreaks of rain continuing in Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England.
But the peak will be “almost a blink and you miss it”, with temperatures widely cooling close to average by the weekend, said senior Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud.
From Friday, temperatures are expected to be much closer to average across most of the UK, and even slightly below average for northern Scotland.
Saturday will have a chilly start for many, but there will be lots of dry weather with some sunny spells, with Reading expected to enjoy temperatures of 25C and Nottingham set for 22C.
July was 3C above average across the UK, according to provisional Met Office data.
This could put it among the hottest three or four months of July on record, said senior Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud. Some parts of the UK had rain over the weekend, mainly in the North and North West, with 33mm (1.3in) falling on Sunday at Charterhall, in the Scottish Borders, and Altnahinch Filters in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, receiving 17mm (0.7in).
But mainly places missed out and stayed largely dry, the Met Office said, with little, if any, relief in some southern regions.
Some spots have gone for weeks without rain – such as Wisley in Surrey, which has had 40 consecutive dry days.
The heat and ongoing dry conditions have led to hosepipe bans for 23 million customers, while even water companies without bans in place are telling households to conserve water, and drought has been declared across a swathe of Wales.
Southern England has had just one per cent of its average July rainfall. England has had five per cent and the UK as a whole 20 per cent, according to the Met Office.
However, the forecaster warned that heatwave thresholds will need to be adjusted to take into account the warming climate, with fire chiefs also warning of the additional risk of wildfires.
At the height of the third heatwave, in mid-July, firefighters were battling 19 significant wildfires simultaneously in England and Wales.
A National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) spokesperson said: “With the Met Office warning that a fourth heatwave could develop this week, bringing another period of very hot weather to parts of the UK, fire and rescue services remain on alert and are continuing to prepare for renewed wildfire risk.”
The dry spell has contributed to low water levels, and north Wales and the Upper Severn became the first part of the UK to declare drought status on Thursday.
Fires, if they start, are likely to become exceptionally severe in pockets of the East, South, and south-east England, according to Met Office data used by Natural England and Natural Resources Wales.
The “exceptionally severe” warnings focus on eastern England on Thursday.
Met Office chief meteorologist, Dan Suri, said: “After a prolonged spell of hot, dry and settled weather, some will see a temporary change this weekend as weather fronts move south-east across the UK.
“While some areas, particularly in the North and West, will see rain and showers, many places are likely to receive relatively little rainfall.
“For much of southern England, dry conditions are expected to remain the dominant feature, with temperatures recovering quickly next week and the potential for very warm or locally hot weather to return.”
Met Office five-day weather forecast
Thursday
Cloud and patchy rain will move south-eastwards across England and Wales. Less warm than recently here too. Elsewhere it will be fresher with more in the way of sunshine, though it will be windy across Scotland with blustery showers.
Thursday night
Patchy cloud giving a few early evening showers across south-east England. Clear periods elsewhere. However, some cloud, and breezy in the North and North West, with some showers. Fresher for all.
Friday
Mostly dry in the South and South East on Friday with some warm spells of sunshine. Cooler, with a breeze towards the north and northwest, and a scattering of showers.
Saturday to Monday
Remaining breezy with showers in the North on Saturday. Largely dry with warm sunshine further South. Most places dry on Sunday, then showers could break out more widely on Monday.
