The Met Office has issued rare amber “extreme heat” warnings for 12 counties across London, the South East, East Midlands, East of England, West Midlands and South Yorkshire, with temperatures forecast to reach 38C on Thursday (August 13). The warning runs until midnight on Thursday, and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued amber heat health alerts for all regions, in effect from 9am on Tuesday (August 11) to 9pm on Friday (August 14).
Firefighters declare national emergency
Fire Brigades Union general secretary Steve Wright told Times Radio that the country is facing a national emergency “right now”, with fires being reported “all across” the UK. Firefighters have attended 966 wildfires across England and Wales this year, including 185 during the first 10 days of August alone, according to the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). July was the busiest month on record for wildfires, with 458 incidents logged.
Crews from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have been tackling a fire in the New Forest, which started after a van caught alight on the A31 near Ringwood on Sunday. The affected area is protected heathland and is home to a number of rare species, according to the New Forest National Park Authority.
Met Office chief forecaster on the heat
Met Office chief forecaster Chris Bulmer said: “While the peak heat will be more short-lived than recent heatwaves, temperatures widely into the mid-30s Celsius on Thursday brings the potential for impacts for some, which is why a Met Office warning has been issued. High pressure is now becoming dominant and temperatures will build day by day. Southerly and south-easterly winds will also tap into the hot conditions over Europe which helps develop this further notable heat in what has been a hot and dry summer so far for many in the south of the UK.”
Mr Wright added: “In many parts of the country, firefighters do not have the new modern equipment to deal with these. They do not have the new modern personal protective equipment, the lightweight fire kit that we wear, the right helmets, lightweight helmets, breathable uniforms to make sure they're better protected, their health is protected when they're out dealing with these incidents for hours and hours on end.”
Drought and water restrictions
Nearly three quarters of England and the entirety of Wales are now experiencing drought, following a record dry July and exceptionally arid beginning to August. Southern Water has submitted an application for a rare drought order that would prohibit businesses from non-essential water usage, including vehicle washing and filling non-domestic swimming pools. The firm stated that an “exceptional” absence of rainfall had threatened water supplies across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and cautioned that 165,000 residents in the Southampton West supply zone could face limited water availability. Environment Secretary Angela Eagle will determine the application, which would mark the first such prohibition since May 2006.
Water stations have been established in Ilford, east London, and Chigwell, Essex, following burst water mains that have left properties and businesses without water or experiencing low water pressure since Sunday, Thames Water confirmed. The Environment Agency stated that 71.3% of England is now suffering from “flash drought”, after a dry start to August followed the country's driest July on record. Flash drought is a phenomenon which develops rapidly due to a combination of extremely low rainfall and high temperatures.
Record-shattering heatwaves in May and June resulted in the deaths of over 2,800 people, while parts of the country were struck by additional heatwaves last month as England and Wales experienced their driest July since records started in 1836. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “I want to thank NHS staff who are once again stepping up to cope with the extra pressures that hot weather brings. Extreme heat can be dangerous, so staying aware of warnings and alerts in place can make a real difference.”
