The Met Office has identified nine UK regions set to experience temperatures above 30C this week, as the country's sixth heatwave of the summer prompts a new heat health alert. The mercury is forecast to climb to 36C in south east England and East Anglia on Thursday, August 13, leading the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to issue a fresh warning.
Heat alert expanded across England and Wales
A yellow heat health alert is already in place for most of southern England until Wednesday, August 12. However, a new alert covering the period from 9am on Tuesday, August 11, to Friday evening, August 14, is set to come into effect. This alert is far wider than the previous one, as more areas are expected to surpass 30C.
Between Tuesday and Friday, nine UK regions will see temperatures exceed 30C: East Midlands, East of England, Greater London, North West England, South East England, South West England, Wales, West Midlands, and Yorkshire and the Humber. The only English region not included is the north east.
Temperatures to rise steadily
Temperatures will climb throughout the week. On Tuesday, highs of 29C are forecast in Cardiff, 28C in Manchester, and 25C in London, before soaring to the mid-30s in some areas on Thursday, according to the Met Office.
In response, UKHSA officials are urging people to take simple precautions, such as drinking plenty of water, checking on vulnerable friends and family, and avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day.
Amber alerts and drought concerns
Amber heat health alerts have been issued for most of England, including the Midlands, South East, North West, and South West. Although the north east is not expected to exceed 30C, it remains under a less severe yellow alert.
The heatwave is intensifying drought worries in England and Wales. The Environment Agency (EA) reports that 71.3 percent of England is experiencing "flash drought," following the driest July on record and a dry start to August. Flash drought develops rapidly due to a combination of very low rainfall and high temperatures.
On Monday, the EA announced that the East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Kent and East Sussex, and Solent and the South Downs have become the latest areas to move into drought status. All of Wales is already in drought. Some 45 million people live in drought-stricken areas, and 27 million customers are under hosepipe bans as rivers and reservoirs run low.
Summer of extremes
This summer has seen the UK struggle with extreme heat and dry conditions. Two record-breaking heatwaves in May and June led to more than 2,800 deaths, followed by further heatwaves in July. Drought, heatwaves, and wildfires are expected to become more common as global warming, largely driven by fossil fuel use, alters the country's climate.
Farmers have warned of a "brutal harvest" for crops and a lack of feed for livestock, with warnings of food price inflation later in the year as Europe's searing summer affects supply chains.
The latest heatwave, expected to be widespread across England and Wales, is set to subside over the weekend, bringing fresher air and rain. However, forecasters warn this will not make up for the rainfall shortfall in recent months.
