Natural Resources Wales has extended its drought declaration to cover the entire country, after very little rainfall and sustained high temperatures. Wales received just 8% of its long-term average rainfall for July and is on course for its driest July since records began 190 years ago.
UK-wide drought and heatwave impacts
Half of England is officially in drought despite a very wet winter, as an extremely dry July compounded a dry spring and successive heatwaves put pressure on water resources. The UK has endured its fourth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures topping 35C. Health authorities warn England is on track for the highest number of heat-related deaths since current figures began.
Fire chiefs say wildfires are becoming a recurring and growing feature of the risks facing communities in the face of a changing climate. Data show July was the busiest month on record, with firefighters responding to 393 wildfires across England and Wales. The number of wildfire incidents recorded this year already matches the total annual figures seen in 2021, 2023, and 2024 combined.
Expert warnings and response
Phil Garrigan, chairman of the National Fire Chiefs Council, said: "Wildfires are no longer isolated or seasonal events. They are becoming a recurring and growing feature of the risks facing our communities and emergency services." He called for sustained investment in specialist training, modern equipment, and research to improve prevention and response.
Fire chiefs are urging people to dispose of cigarettes safely, avoid disposable barbecues, and take litter home to reduce fire risk. In a recent wildfire, properties including a holiday park were evacuated as firefighters battled a large heathland blaze on the Suffolk coast at Dunwich Heath. Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service declared a major incident, with the fire covering about 100 hectares.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said firefighters would have all the resources they needed. EDF said the fire was not affecting operations at nearby Sizewell B nuclear power stations but they were closely monitoring the situation. The blaze occurred amid soaring temperatures, which reached 35.2C in Writtle, Essex, marking the seventh day of 2026 with a high of 35C or more.
Heat-related deaths and health warnings
The UK Health Security Agency said it is likely that 2026 could see the highest number of heat-associated deaths on record, surpassing 2022. There have been almost double the number of excess deaths caused by heatwaves so far this year than all of last summer. The agency estimated 2,877 heat-associated deaths during the May and June heatwaves.
Essex Police said a man died after getting into difficulty in the sea at Frinton on Thursday. Despite emergency services' efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Outlook and calls for action
Met Office chief meteorologist Will Lang said: "While there is always the potential for periods of rain during the remainder of the summer, current forecasts do not favour the widespread, sustained rainfall that would be needed to make a significant difference to rainfall deficits." Meaningful recovery often relies on more frequent rainfall during autumn.
Some 23 million customers are under hosepipe bans, nearly 1,400 businesses have stopped abstracting water, and dry conditions have hit river flows, wildlife, crops, and livestock. Farmers are calling for measures to make agriculture more resilient to climate change, including building on-farm reservoirs and flexible abstraction licences.
National Trust director general Hilary McGrady called for steps to protect health, heritage, and way of life, but warned against accepting such extremes as the new normal. She said: "Every nation has to tackle the problem at source – and that means leaving fossil fuels in the ground. Andy Burnham and his government must not stall in their response."
