Southern Water has announced a hosepipe ban for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, effective from 12:01 a.m. on July 10, as a new heatwave is set to push temperatures up to 34C in parts of the UK. The Met Office forecasts that southern England could see 28C on Saturday, rising to 29C on Sunday, and approaching the low 30s early next week before peaking at 34C on Thursday or Friday in the South East.
Health Alerts and Risks
Yellow heat health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the East Midlands, East of England, South East, South West (including London), and West Midlands. These alerts are in effect from midday on Saturday until 8 p.m. on July 11. The UKHSA warned that minor impacts are likely across health and social care services, including increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people and a greater risk to life for that group. There is also a potential increase in water-related incidents, such as cold water shock and drowning.
Hosepipe Ban Details
Southern Water states on its website that "the warmest spring on record, followed by a record-breaking heatwave, has left river levels 25% lower than expected for this time of year." The River Test has lost a third of its water within the last month, "putting pressure on our ability to treat and supply your water." The ban prohibits non-essential hosepipe use, including watering gardens, filling paddling pools, hot tubs, swimming pools, ponds, or fountains, and washing cars, patios, or windows. Customers on the priority services register with medical or mobility needs, including blue badge holders and those on the WaterSure tariff, are exempt.
Weather Forecast
Met Office meteorologist Becky Mitchell said: "We have got a heatwave on the way across parts of southern England and Wales... The peak of the heat appears to be Thursday or Friday, 34C in the South East. By comparison to the heatwave we saw in June, this heatwave won’t be as hot and humid, but it will be a prolonged spell of hot weather which lasts around a week." Northern areas will be cloudier with spells of rain, creating a north/south split.
Previous Heatwave Records
This alert follows a sweltering heatwave last week, during which the Met Office issued a rare red warning for extreme heat. The UK set a provisional June temperature record of 37.7C in Lingwood, Norfolk, beating the previous June record of 35.6C from 1976 by more than 2C—a margin far larger than typical record breaks.
