Yellow heat health alerts are in place across parts of England from 9am on Friday until 9am on Sunday, with officials warning that temperatures are likely to impact health and wellbeing. The alerts cover the East Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West and West Midlands.
Temperatures in the affected areas are forecast to reach mid to high 20s Celsius, with a high of 30C possible, as much of the country continues to experience a prolonged period of dry, warm weather.
Drought declared in North Wales and Upper Severn
The heat health warning from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) comes as drought was declared in North Wales and the Upper Severn, following record dry conditions, heatwaves, wildfires and dwindling rivers. It is the first part of the UK to declare drought status amid a summer of record-breaking heatwaves.
Many parts of England are in prolonged dry weather status as the country has received just 3% of its average July rainfall, with hosepipe bans in place for 23 million customers and suppliers warning they may stay in place all summer.
Wildfires and dry conditions across the UK
Wildfires have been raging in a number of places in England, while Scotland has also been hit by a major wildfire in the Cairngorms. In the Republic of Ireland, a nationwide hosepipe ban is in place in response to the dry conditions. This summer's dry conditions follow last year's drought summer, as the UK increasingly faces more extreme weather fuelled by human-caused climate change, mostly from burning fossil fuels.
The Met Office said temperatures could reach 30C in parts of South East England on Friday, while parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland will see patches of cloud. Forecaster Craig Snell said outbreaks of rain will move southwards on Saturday, spreading from Scotland and Northern Ireland into northern England and parts of Wales. By Sunday, temperatures are expected to turn "fresher" across much of the UK, with rain possible in "areas that haven't seen much" over the past few weeks, he added.
Busy getaway weekend
The heat alerts are in place at the beginning of a stretch in which millions of motorists are expected to take to the roads for summer getaways. The AA said around 6.3 million drivers are planning a road trip of more than 100 miles between Friday and Thursday. The Port of Dover is expecting another busy weekend but has worked to smooth any delays caused by new EU border checks.
The weather health alerting system is provided by the UKHSA in partnership with the Met Office and is intended to provide early warning to the health and social care sector, the responder community, the voluntary and community sector and government departments when adverse temperatures are likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population.
