The Met Office has reported that 2026 marks the first year in which temperatures of 35°C have been recorded in the UK on six separate days. This surpasses previous records, with five such days in both 1976 and 2020. This year is also the first to experience temperatures of 35°C or higher across three consecutive months, and it has broken the record for days reaching 34°C or higher, with nine days recorded so far.
Heatwave to persist into next week
Temperatures in parts of England and Wales will continue to exceed 30°C on Sunday and into the following week, according to the Met Office. While a risk of thunderstorms may develop in southern areas from Monday, most regions are expected to remain dry, sunny, and very hot. A provisional maximum daily temperature of 33°C was recorded in Yelverton, Devon, on Saturday.
Craig Snell, a forecaster at the Met Office, stated: “Today, 33°C is still well above average for the time of year. The very hot conditions are going to continue to remain across the UK until at least next week.” He advised people to stay hydrated, avoid prolonged sun exposure, and check on friends and family, especially those vulnerable to heat.
Wildfire and health warnings
Emergency services have warned of an extreme risk of wildfires this weekend. The London Fire Brigade urged the public not to use disposable barbecues, citing an increased risk due to prolonged dry weather, heat, and wind speeds. The risk in London escalated from “elevated” to “extreme” on Saturday and is expected to remain so until Monday.
The Metropolitan Police expressed concern over excessive calls during England’s World Cup match against Norway on Saturday evening. A surge in emergency calls during the hot weather prompted the force to urge the public to call 999 only for immediate danger or ongoing crimes, with other offences to be reported online.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued amber heat health alerts for the West Midlands and south-west England, effective from 9am on Sunday to 9pm on Wednesday. These alerts indicate significant impacts likely across health and social care services, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with pre-existing health conditions. Yellow alerts were posted for the East Midlands, north-west England, south-east England, east of England, and London for the same period, warning of possible significant impacts and an increased risk of water-related incidents.
Water safety and tragic incidents
Snell also cautioned about strong winds developing on the south coast, which could create dangerous wave conditions. The Met Office warned of high to very high UV levels this weekend, with a UV index of eight forecast for most of England and Wales on Sunday. Pollen levels are also expected to be high or very high, particularly in Wales and south-west England.
Several water-related tragedies have occurred amid the heatwave. An 18-year-old man’s body was recovered from the water near a weir at Darley Abbey Mills complex near Derby after two teenagers got into difficulty, according to Derbyshire Constabulary. Another 18-year-old man died at Dovestone Reservoir near Oldham on Friday, as reported by Greater Manchester Police. Police Scotland confirmed the recovery of a woman’s body from the Falls of Falloch in Stirling after she got into difficulty on Friday evening.
Hosepipe bans implemented
Water firms have announced hosepipe bans across several regions due to strained water supplies following successive heatwaves and a record warm spring. Southern Water imposed restrictions on Friday for approximately one million customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Anglian Water followed with a ban for its five million customers in eastern England, effective from 1am on Saturday. Cambridge Water announced a temporary ban for its 350,000 customers, marking the first such restriction in three decades. South East Water introduced a ban on 3 July for areas in Kent, including Ashford, Canterbury, Faversham, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Snodland, Tenterden, and Tunbridge Wells.
