Heatwave in England and Wales to Persist Through Next Week, Met Office Warns

The Met Office has stated that the scorching heatwave affecting much of England and Wales will last until at least next week. Temperatures are expected to exceed 30°C on Sunday and into the early part of the week. While there is a risk of thunderstorms developing in the south from Monday, most areas are forecast to remain dry, sunny, and very hot. A provisional maximum daily temperature of 33°C was recorded on Saturday in Yelverton, Devon.

The forecaster noted that 2026 is the first year in the UK to record six days with temperatures reaching 35°C or higher. Previous records were set in 1976 and 2020, each with five such days. This year is also the first to experience temperatures of 35°C or above across three months, and it has broken the record for days with temperatures of 34°C or higher, with nine days recorded so far.

Wildfire Risk and Public Appeals

Emergency services have warned of an extreme risk of wildfires this weekend. The London Fire Brigade urged people not to use disposable barbecues, citing that the risk in London rose from “elevated” to “extreme” on Saturday due to prolonged dry weather, heat, and wind, and will remain so until Monday. The Metropolitan Police have expressed concern about excessive calls during England’s World Cup match against Norway on Saturday evening. They urge the public to call 999 only for immediate danger or crimes in progress, and to report other offenses online.

Craig Snell, a Met Office forecaster, said that 33°C is still well above average for this time of year and that very hot conditions will persist across the UK until at least next week. He advised people to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged sun exposure, check on friends and family, and be cautious of cold water shock when swimming in the sea. Snell also warned of strong winds along the south coast in the coming days.

Health Alerts and Water Restrictions

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued amber heat health alerts for the West Midlands and south-west England from 9 am Sunday to 9 pm Wednesday. This indicates significant impacts on health and social care services, including a potential rise in deaths among those aged 65 and over or with underlying health conditions. Yellow alerts were posted for the East Midlands, north-west, south-east, east of England, and London for the same period.

The UKHSA also warned of potential increases in water-related incidents, including cold water shock and drowning. On Saturday, the body of an 18-year-old man was recovered from the water near a weir at the Darley Abbey Mills complex near Derby after two teenagers got into difficulty. An 18-year-old man died on Friday at Dovestone reservoir near Oldham, and the body of a woman was recovered from the Falls of Falloch in Stirling, Scotland, after she got into difficulty on Friday evening.

Several water companies have introduced hosepipe bans. Southern Water implemented restrictions on Friday for about 1 million customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Anglian Water followed with a ban for its 5 million customers in the east of England, effective from 1 am Saturday. Cambridge Water announced a temporary ban for its 350,000 customers – the first such restriction in 30 years – effective immediately but with enforcement starting next Friday. South East Water was the first to introduce a ban on 3 July for parts of Kent, including Ashford and Canterbury.