Amber heat-health alerts issued for most of England as temperatures could reach 36C or higher this week - as it happened

From

Amber heath-health alerts issued for most regions in England from Tuesday to Friday

Andrew Gregory

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has updated heat-health alerts for nine regions in England, warning that rising temperatures this week may increase health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups.

Amber alerts will be in place for Yorkshire and the Humber, West Midlands, East Midlands, East of England, South East, London, South West and North West regions from 9am on Tuesday 11 August to 9pm on Friday 14 August. The North East will be under a yellow alert during the same period.

Polly Ashmore, acting consultant in Public Health at the UK Health Security Agency, said:

double quotation markIt’s important that everyone is aware of the simple steps they can take to stay safe during periods of hot weather. Drinking plenty of water, avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day and keeping indoor spaces cool are all things you can do to keep yourself and others safe. For vulnerable groups including older adults and those with existing health conditions, warmer weather than result in serious health outcomes. We urge health and social care services to ensure they are prepared and encourage people to check on vulnerable friends and family to make sure everyone is aware of the forecast, follows the necessary advice and stays safe in this period of hot weather.

This is where we will leave our coverage of hot weather and drought across the UK. Thanks for following along.

Here’s what we learned today:

\n Almost three-quarters of England is now officially in drought after four more regions were given drought status. This is the third drought in five years, the UK’s Environment Agency said.
\n The update leaves 27 million people under water use restrictions during a sustained period of hot and dry weather intensified by the climate crisis.
\n The National Farmers’ Union warned the drought could lead to shortages of certain foods in Britain as farmers contend with a “brutal harvest” for crops and a lack of feed for livestock.
\n More than 120 firefighters were battling to prevent a blaze from spreading through internationally protected heathland in New Forest National Park, in England’s south. The blaze threatens a number of rare species including all six UK native reptiles, Dartford warblers, nightjars, insects.
\n The UK Health Security Agency earlier today updated heat-health alerts for nine regions in England, warning that rising temperatures this week may increase health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups.
\n Amber heat alerts will be in place for Yorkshire and the Humber, West Midlands, East Midlands, east of England, south-east, London, south-west and north-west regions from 9am on Tuesday to 9pm on Friday. The north-east will be under a yellow alert during the same period.
\n Temperatures could reach 36C (97F) or higher this week, forecasters have said, with the heat peaking in some areas on Thursday.

With no meaningful rain forecast in coming weeks, the situation for farmers is becoming dire.

Paul Tompkins, deputy president of the National Farmers’ Union, had this to say:

\n “Many farmers have completed the earliest harvest on record, with poor yields in key crops reported in some areas of the country. Livestock and dairy farmers are already using winter feed because grass has stopped growing, while growers are working hard to keep fruit and vegetables watered, but many are struggling to access the water they need.\n

After a meeting of the National Drought Group on Monday, four more regions of England were officially declared in drought: the East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Kent and East Sussex, and Solent and the South Downs.

The update means 71.3% of England is now experiencing a flash drought, which is brought about by a combination of very low rainfall and higher temperatures.

England has recorded its driest July since records began in 1836.

You can read more about the declaration below.

There are now more than 120 firefighters battling to prevent a blaze from spreading through internationally protected heathland in New Forest National Park, in England’s south.

“We have 10 fire engines and 13 off-road vehicles in attendance, and we plan to maintain this number of vehicles until at least midnight, although it is likely to be required for longer,” a spokesperson for the New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA) said.

The blaze began when a van caught fire on the nearby A31 dual carriageway on Sunday evening.

Motorists are being diverted from the road which is closed in both directions “until further notice”.

Those visiting or taking diversions on New Forest roads should take extra care “and be aware of roaming livestock”, the NFNPA said.

“New Forest livestock, such as ponies, donkeys and cattle are unpredictable,” the authority said. “Pass wide and slow, be patient with animals and other drivers, and do not honk or rev your engines in an attempt to move them on.”

While we wait for that official declaration to come through, here are a few more photos coming through of dry conditions across England and Wales.

\n Drought is expected to be declared in more areas of England later today as parts of the UK brace for the fifth heatwave of the summer.
\n All of Wales and more than half of England are already in drought after an unprecedented period of dry, hot weather.
\n The National Drought Group, whose members include the government, water companies, the National Farmers’ Union, the Met Office and conservation experts, are meeting on Monday and are expected to declare more regions in England in drought.
\n The UK Health Security Agency earlier today updated heat-health alerts for nine regions in England, warning that rising temperatures this week may increase health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups.
\n Amber alerts will be in place for Yorkshire and the Humber, West Midlands, East Midlands, east of England, south-east, London, south-west and north-west regions from 9am on Tuesday to 9pm on Friday. The north-east will be under a yellow alert during the same period.
\n Temperatures could reach 36C (97F) or higher this week, forecasters have said, with the heat peaking in some spots on Thursday.
\n The extended period of dry and hot weather, intensified by the climate crisis, has led to over 20 million people being subject to hosepipe bans as water supplies are placed under serious strain with rivers and reservoirs running dangerously low.
\n The National Farmers’ Union has warned the drought could lead to shortages of certain foods in Britain, with farmers describing a “brutal harvest” for crops and a lack of feed for livestock.

Polly Ashmore, acting consultant in Public Health at the UK Health Security Agency, said:

\n It’s important that everyone is aware of the simple steps they can take to stay safe during periods of hot weather. Drinking plenty of water, avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day and keeping indoor spaces cool are all things you can do to keep yourself and others safe.\n For vulnerable groups including older adults and those with existing health conditions, warmer weather than result in serious health outcomes.\n We urge health and social care services to ensure they are prepared and encourage people to check on vulnerable friends and family to make sure everyone is aware of the forecast, follows the necessary advice and stays safe in this period of hot weather.\n

Chessington World of Adventures Resort theme park was forced to close today due to a water outage affecting the local area.

The Surrey theme park, a popular attraction near London offering adventure rides, a zoo and sea life centre, said it was working closely with Thames Water and local partners to support as “safe and timely resolution”.

While a closure notice was published on its website this morning, some visitors had already arrived at the site. Those with affected tickets were told that under its “Returns Promise” tickets would be automatically be revalidated for future dates.

A spokesperson from Chessington World of Adventures said:

\n We are currently experiencing operational disruption due to a water outage affecting the local area affecting the attraction. As a result, the attraction is closed today while our teams work closely with Thames Water and local partners to restore normal operations as quickly and safely as possible.\n We appreciate the patience and understanding of our guests and can confirm that anyone impacted will be automatically revalidated under our Return Promise. The safety of our guests and employees remains our highest priority.\n

Chessington theme park closing in peak summer holidays because of no water…They also don’t give refunds - just a “return guarantee” on limited dates. pic.twitter.com/oTmJnDVoGg— Jessica Elgot (@jessicaelgot) August 10, 2026

Staff are said to be following established operational and safety procedures to manage the situation, with the safety and wellbeing of guests, employees and partners remaining the highest priority.

The park said it would continue to communicate regularly and provide updates. The theme park closure comes at peak trading time for the attraction in the middle of the school summer holidays.

Its website states guests have up to nine months to revalidate their tickets. However, in exceptional circumstances, guests can contact its customer services team, who can review requests on a case-by-case basis.

A Thames Water spokesperson said: “We’re sorry to customers in the Chessington area who are currently without water, and to anyone whose plans to visit Chessington World of Adventures Resort have been affected following today’s outage.

“Our specialist team is on site and have located a burst water main on Leatherhead Road. Repairs are under way and we are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore supplies. Once the repair is complete, water should begin returning to taps.”

Firefighters are trying to put out a fire on internationally protected heathland in the New Forest National Park in Hampshire, southern England, which is said to have started after a vehicle caught fire on the nearby A31 on Sunday.

“It’s rare heathland which globally is more rare than rainforest with lots of rare species,” a spokesperson for the New Forest National Park Authority said. She added:

\n We have the highest concentration of lowland heathland in western Europe and it’s internationally protected. It is home to all six UK native reptiles, Dartford warblers, nightjars, insects – it’s devastating.\n

The spokesperson said that it was too early to tell how much damage had been caused because the incident was still ongoing.

Several wildfires have broken out in the UK over recent weeks amid the hot and dry weather, including large blazes at Holme Fen, a peatland nature reserve near Peterborough, 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.

As we mentioned in the opening post, the whole of Wales and half of England has already been declared in drought. Here is a full list of the affected areas in England:

\n East Anglia
\n Hertfordshire and London
\n Thames Valley
\n Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
\n Devon and Cornwall
\n The West Midlands
\n Wessex (covering Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire and south Gloucestershire)

Amber heat-health alerts have been issued for five regions of England from 9am on Tuesday until 6pm on Wednesday: the West Midlands, East Midlands, south-east, London, and the east of England.

Amber alerts mean an increased likelihood of health impacts for those aged 65 and older and people with pre-exisiting conditions, although there may also be impacts to younger people too. The weather impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service under this category, which is below red, the most severe.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued a yellow heat-health alert for the north-east and north-west, which are under a yellow alert for the same period. The south-west of England and Yorkshire and the Humber regions are already under a yellow alert, which remains in place.

According to the UKHSA, yellow alerts are issued when most people are unlikely to be affected by the weather, but could impact those who are particularly vulnerable.

Dr Paul Coleman, consultant in public health at the UKHSA, said:

\n Temperatures are forecast to rise above 30°C across central and southern parts of the country over the next few days, and generally hot weather is expected across most regions of England.\n These kind of temperatures can result in serious health outcomes across the population – particularly in those who are vulnerable, such as the elderly or those with serious health conditions – so it is important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.\n

The National Drought Group (NDG) is expected to meet this afternoon and declare that more parts of England are officially in drought, as parts of the UK head into a potential fifth heatwave of the year this week.

All of Wales and more than half of England are already in drought after an unprecedented period of dry, hot weather over the summer.

The NDG includes the Met Office, the government, regulators, water companies, the National Farmers’ Union, the Canal & River Trust, anglers and conservation experts.

It reviews the impacts of droughts and helps draw up mitigation plans to respond to them as wildfire risks increase, rivers run dangerously low and food production/security is affected by long periods of little or no rainfall.

The lack of rainfall has seen millions of people be put under temporary hosepipe bans, with water supplies having been severely depleted, particularly in the south and south-east.

The heat and continuing drought conditions are being intensified by the worsening climate crisis, putting huge pressure on vulnerable people, critical infrastructure and wildlife across affected areas.

Temperatures could reach 36C (97F) or higher this week, forecasters have said. Monday will be slightly cooler before temperatures rise again on Tuesday.

Key events

1h agoWhat happened today
2h agoFarmers 'struggling to access the water they need'
3h agoAlmost three-quarters of England now in drought
3h agoMore than 120 firefighters fight blaze in New Forest National Park
3h agoDrought in pictures
4h agoAfternoon summary
8h agoAmber heath-health alerts issued for most regions in England from Tuesday to Friday
8h agoChessington theme park forced to close due to water outage
9h agoFirefighters working to put out 'devastating' fire in the New Forest National Park
9h agoWhat areas are already officially in drought?
9h agoWarning of likely impact to health service as amber heat alerts issued for swathes of England
10h agoMore parts of England expected to be declared in drought as fifth heatwave of summer looms

What happened today

Angus Thomson

This is where we will leave our coverage of hot weather and drought across the UK. Thanks for following along.

Here’s what we learned today:

Almost three-quarters of England is now officially in drought after four more regions were given drought status. This is the third drought in five years, the UK’s Environment Agency said.
The update leaves 27 million people under water use restrictions during a sustained period of hot and dry weather intensified by the climate crisis.
The National Farmers’ Union warned the drought could lead to shortages of certain foods in Britain as farmers contend with a “brutal harvest” for crops and a lack of feed for livestock.
More than 120 firefighters were battling to prevent a blaze from spreading through internationally protected heathland in New Forest National Park, in England’s south. The blaze threatens a number of rare species including all six UK native reptiles, Dartford warblers, nightjars, insects.
The UK Health Security Agency earlier today updated heat-health alerts for nine regions in England, warning that rising temperatures this week may increase health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Amber heat alerts will be in place for Yorkshire and the Humber, West Midlands, East Midlands, east of England, south-east, London, south-west and north-west regions from 9am on Tuesday to 9pm on Friday. The north-east will be under a yellow alert during the same period.
Temperatures could reach 36C (97F) or higher this week, forecasters have said, with the heat peaking in some areas on Thursday.

Here are a few of the numbers coming out of today’s National Drought Group meeting, which show showing the problems caused by this sustained run of dry and hot weather:

Rainfall totals for July ranged from 1-26% of expected averages. Some parts of Hampshire, Isle of Wight and West Sussex have not had a rain day for 59 days.
Natural England noted 245 wildfires have been reported on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) this year.
Only 14% of rivers are at normal levels. One in five rivers are classified as exceptionally low, including the Avon, Wye, Ely Ouse and Exe.
River temperatures continue to rise, including 27C on the River Trent – around 2C higher than expected.
England reservoir storage fell 16% last month – the greatest reduction in raw water storage in any July for the last 30 years.
Water shortages have caused 26 navigation closures and 19 restrictions across the canal network, with the Canal and River Trust forecasting further closures without significant rainfall in coming weeks.
As mentioned earlier, eight water companies have introduced Temporary Use Bans (TUBs), in some or all of their areas, affecting more than 27 million customers.

An aerial image of swimmers in a light blue pool bordering dry grassland.

Sunseekers at Brockwell Lido in south London. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA

Water minister Emma Hardy, who attended the National Drought Group meeting on Monday, said the government was stepping up its support for farmers.

This included plans to help farmers build irrigation reservoirs on their land. The government was also investing in new infrastructure such as reservoirs and water transfer schemes to help secure supply, she said.

“We know how challenging this summer has been, especially for our hard-working farmers who are at the sharp end of climate change,” Hardy said.

Farmers 'struggling to access the water they need'

With no meaningful rain forecast in coming weeks, the situation for farmers is becoming dire.

Paul Tompkins, deputy president of the National Farmers’ Union, had this to say:

double quotation mark“Many farmers have completed the earliest harvest on record, with poor yields in key crops reported in some areas of the country. Livestock and dairy farmers are already using winter feed because grass has stopped growing, while growers are working hard to keep fruit and vegetables watered, but many are struggling to access the water they need.

Three brown and white cattle feed on hay in a dry paddock.

Cattle feed at a farm near London. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA

The latest declaration means there are now 45 million people living in regions affected by drought – including 27m under water use restrictions.

Interestingly, temporary use restrictions (such as hosepipe bans) have reduced public demand by up to 9% in some parts of the UK, the Environment Agency said in its statement.

The Horticulture Trades Association has a few tips for hot weather gardening, including:

Watering plants in the early morning or evening. This helps plants take on water and reduces evaporation.
Mulch when temperatures are lower, allowing the soil to retain moisture and protect against drying gusty winds.
Choose drought-tolerant plants such as succulents and herbs, plants with silvery or hairy foliage, and alpines.
Use water from washing up bowls, dog bowls, or anything you would otherwise be throwing away.

Remember you can still use watering cans and buckets during a hosepipe ban.

Almost three-quarters of England now in drought

Pippa Neill

This illustration shows the regions of England now affected by drought, which are: East Anglia, Hertfordshire and the whole of London, Thames Valley, Devon and Cornwall, Wessex (covering Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and south Gloucestershire) The West Midlands, East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Kent and East Sussex.

Illustration: PA

The update means 71.3% of England is now experiencing a flash drought, which is brought about by a combination of very low rainfall and higher temperatures.

England has recorded its driest July since records began in 1836.

You can read more about the declaration below.

More than 120 firefighters fight blaze in New Forest National Park

There are now more than 120 firefighters battling to prevent a blaze from spreading through internationally protected heathland in New Forest National Park, in England’s south.

A horse grazes alongside a dirt track while smoke rises from trees in the distance.

Smoke rises from a major heathland blaze in the New Forest near Ringwood in Hampshire. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA

The blaze began when a van caught fire on the nearby A31 dual carriageway on Sunday evening.

Motorists are being diverted from the road which is closed in both directions “until further notice”.

Those visiting or taking diversions on New Forest roads should take extra care “and be aware of roaming livestock”, the NFNPA said.

Drought in pictures

While we wait for that official declaration to come through, here are a few more photos coming through of dry conditions across England and Wales.

A man and a woman sit on a park bench overlooking a narrow strip of sand between the ocean and a small inlet. A small bird sits in the foreground.

A couple sit on a bench looking out over Chesil beach and the dried landscape of of Portland, Dorset. Photograph: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images

A person takes a photo on a phone looking across Parliament Square towards parliament and Big Ben.

Dried and yellowed grass at Parliament Square in London. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Sweetcorn stalks grow up out of dry ground, while houses can be seen in the background.

A sweetcorn crop growing at a farm near London. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA

Afternoon summary

Drought is expected to be declared in more areas of England later today as parts of the UK brace for the fifth heatwave of the summer.
All of Wales and more than half of England are already in drought after an unprecedented period of dry, hot weather.
The National Drought Group, whose members include the government, water companies, the National Farmers’ Union, the Met Office and conservation experts, are meeting on Monday and are expected to declare more regions in England in drought.
The UK Health Security Agency earlier today updated heat-health alerts for nine regions in England, warning that rising temperatures this week may increase health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Amber alerts will be in place for Yorkshire and the Humber, West Midlands, East Midlands, east of England, south-east, London, south-west and north-west regions from 9am on Tuesday to 9pm on Friday. The north-east will be under a yellow alert during the same period.
Temperatures could reach 36C (97F) or higher this week, forecasters have said, with the heat peaking in some spots on Thursday.
The extended period of dry and hot weather, intensified by the climate crisis, has led to over 20 million people being subject to hosepipe bans as water supplies are placed under serious strain with rivers and reservoirs running dangerously low.
The National Farmers’ Union has warned the drought could lead to shortages of certain foods in Britain, with farmers describing a “brutal harvest” for crops and a lack of feed for livestock.

Polly Ashmore, acting consultant in public health at the UK Health Security Agency, has urged people to take simple steps to stay safe, such as drinking plenty of water, keeping indoor spaces cool and avoiding the sun at the hottest part of the day.

“For vulnerable groups including older adults and those with existing health conditions, warmer weather can result in serious health outcomes,” she said.

“We urge health and social care services to ensure they are prepared and encourage people to check on vulnerable friends and family to make sure everyone is aware of the forecast, follows the necessary advice and stays safe in this period of hot weather.”

We are still anticipating the National Drought Group, whose members include the government, water companies and conservation experts, will declare more areas of England in drought after they have met this afternoon.

Liz Bentley, the chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that she predicted north-west England would be among the areas where drought could be declared later today. You can read this post to see the regions already declared to be in drought.

Here are some of the latest images being sent over the newswires as swathes of England and all of Wales experience drought:

Aerial view of the dry grass of a football pitch at Hackney Marshes in London. Photograph: Alberto Pezzali/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

This pond in Caversham Park in Berkshire has completely dried up in the extreme heat. Photograph: Geoffrey Swaine/Shutterstock

An aerial view of the dried out ground of Maiden Castle Iron Age hillfort in Dorchester. Photograph: Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images

Ajit Niranjan

Supercharged by fossil fuel pollution, a string of heatwaves have hit Europe since the end of spring, with particularly brutal heat at the end of June expected to have resulted in more than 10,000 deaths.

The EU’s Copernicus climate change service said widespread dryness observed in May and June intensified last month, with exceptionally low rainfall and soil moisture in much of western Europe.

Across the dry regions, which include France, Spain, and parts of Germany and the UK, low river flows hit water supply, irrigation and power plants, including in countries downstream.

Short of cooling water, two coal-fired power plants were forced to shut in Poland last week, as well as Hungary’s sole nuclear power plant, for the first time in its 44-year history.

Heat and drought are among the biggest environmental threats to Europe’s economy. Early estimates for this summer suggest the June heat cost grain farmers €2bn in lost crops. You can read more here:

Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge said that, after fresher conditions on Monday, “the heat really comes back in for a time, and will peak on Thursday.

“We’re expecting values to be in the mid 30Cs, and possibly highest in the East.”

Downing Street defended the government’s response to the heatwave and wildfires, with a meeting of the national drought group being held on Monday bringing together ministers, officials and the water companies.

The prime minister’s official spokesperson said:

double quotation markWe know these conditions are having a significant impact on communities, farmers and businesses across the country. Our climate is changing. Droughts are becoming more common, which is why we’re focused on both the immediate response and long-term resilience. That includes working through the national drought group with the Environment Agency, water companies, farmers, and environmental organisations to protect water supplies and minimise environmental damage. And we’re also backing major investment in water infrastructure, including new reservoirs, whilst making clear that water companies must do more to cut leaks and improve resilience.

Source note