Technology and Science11 July, 20263 min read
Met Office Says England And Wales Heatwave Continues Into Next Week, UKHSA Issues Amber Alerts
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Heatwave to persist into next week with temperatures exceeding 30C in many areas. UKHSA Amber alerts extended for large parts of England and Wales.
Heatwave stretches, alerts
The Met Office said scorching heatwave conditions in England and Wales will last until at least next week, with temperatures in parts of England and Wales continuing to exceed 30C on Sunday and into next week. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued amber heat health alerts for the West Midlands and the south-west from 9am on Sunday to 9pm on Wednesday, warning of significant impacts across health and social care services including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. The UKHSA also posted yellow heat health alerts for the East Midlands, the north-west, the south-east, the east of England and London, with the same 9am on Sunday to 9pm on Wednesday timeframe for possible significant impacts and a potential increase in water-related incidents.
The Met Office said a provisional maximum daily temperature of 33C was recorded in Yelverton in Devon on Saturday, and Craig Snell warned, "Today, 33C is still well above average for the time of year." The BBC reported that amber and yellow heat health alerts issued by the UKHSA remain in place across large parts of England until 21:00 BST on Sunday as the heatwave continues into a second week.
Wildfire and water bans
Emergency services warned of an extreme risk of wildfires this weekend, and the London fire brigade urged people not to use disposable barbecues over fears the dry heat could leadto fires. The Guardian said the risk in London grew from “elevated” to “extreme” on Saturday, driven by prolonged dry weather, heat and wind speed, and would remain the case until Monday. The BBC quoted a National Fire Chiefs Council spokesperson saying, "When the weather stays hot and dry, it only takes one spark to start a wildfire."
Water firms announced hosepipe bans across multiple areas, with the Guardian saying hosepipe restrictions came into force on Friday for about 1 million Southern Water customers across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and then for Anglian Water’s 5 million customers in the east of England at 1am on Saturday. The BBC added that more than five million people are under hosepipe bans due to concerns over the lack of rainfall and increased demand for water, and said Anglian Water’s ban begins at 01:00 BST on Saturday.
Deaths, records, and guidance
The UKHSA said the heat health alerts mean significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. In its broader climate and health explainer, GOV.UK blogs said, "excess heat-related deaths begin to occur above 25°C," and warned that risks rise sharply as temperatures climb further. The GOV.UK blogs post also said, "the impacts on mortality are felt quickly - often within 24 hours of the onset of high temperatures," and described how people with under-developed or impaired sweating mechanisms can find it especially difficult to keep cool at 27°C and above.
The Guardian reported that 2026 was the first year in which temperatures of 35C were recorded in the UK on six days, and said this year has broken the record for temperatures of 34C or higher with nine days recorded so far at that level. The Independent said the Met Office announced new records after temperatures peaked at 35.2C at Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire, on Friday afternoon, and noted Derbyshire Fire and Rescue was fighting two wildfires in the area.