Sweltering temperatures are forecast for parts of the UK again next week as the country braces for its fifth heatwave of the year. Yellow heat health alerts have been put in place for parts of England where temperatures are predicted to soar to a scorching 36C.
Heat health alerts and forecast
The warnings were triggered at 9am on Saturday and will remain in force until 9pm on Tuesday, with cautions that the hot weather could impact public health and put pressure on healthcare services.
The Met Office forecasts a gradual rise in temperatures over the weekend, leading into heatwave conditions next week where highs of 36C are anticipated for parts of East Anglia and south-east England by Thursday.
Record-breaking heat
It comes as the unprecedented heatwaves in May and June saw more than 2,800 excess deaths reported. Further heatwaves in July led to drought conditions and wildfires across the country.
The highest temperature recorded this year soared to an eye-watering 38C in Lingwood, Norfolk, on June 28. So far, there have been 33 days where temperatures have surpassed 30C in regions in the UK, inching closer to the 34-day record set in 1995. It now appears likely 2026 will break that record with the heatwave next week.
Weekend outlook
The forecast shows a north-south divide over the weekend, with Scotland and Northern Ireland bracing for bouts of heavy rain, while England and Wales will be mostly dry and sunny, with warmer conditions in places.
On Saturday, temperatures are expected to reach 30C before rising into the low 30s in southern and south-east England on Sunday. By Tuesday, temperatures will soar again up to 30C across parts of England and Wales, increasing even further to 32C and 34C by Wednesday. The hottest temperature is expected for Thursday.
Health warnings and wildfires
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health warnings for the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London for the latest heatwave.
Meanwhile, the National Trust is urging people to sign a petition demanding that the Government prioritise tackling climate change as a national mission in the wake of several wildfires gripping the UK in recent weeks.
Large fires were recorded at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, Headon Warren on the Isle of Wight, Llanwonno in the Rhondda Valleys, South Wales, and the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland.
Fire severity and water levels
Fires are anticipated to reach exceptionally severe levels on Sunday across almost all of the east and south-east of England, according to the Fire Severity Index. "Exceptional" severity is the index's highest ranking.
The Met Office data, which includes rainfall, temperature and humidity, is used by agencies to assess the severity of a fire if one were to start. However, it does not predict the likelihood of wildfires taking place.
Reservoir storage has also plummeted. On Friday, the Environment Agency reported that storage in England fell to 69%, down from 72% just a week ago, and almost 12 percentage points below the long-term average for this time of year.
At the end of June, storage was at 85%, which is the average for that point in the year, but has been steadily decreasing in recent weeks.
As many as five reservoirs are now categorised as having "exceptionally low" water levels. This includes Blagdon in Somerset (54% full); Clywedog in Powys, which supplies water to central and north-west England (62%); the Dove group of reservoirs in Derbyshire (74%); Hanningfield in Essex (60%); and Wimbleball in Somerset (50%).
Last month was the driest July for England and Wales since records began in 1836, according to provisional figures released by the Met Office. A whopping 19 counties across England recorded effectively no rainfall, of 1mm or less, throughout the entire month.
