Parts of England are now officially in drought following record-low rainfall and soaring temperatures.
The seven regions officially in drought include East Anglia, Hertfordshire and the whole of London, Thames Valley, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, and the West Midlands and Wessex (covering Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and south Gloucestershire).
July has seen just seven per cent of the expected levels of rainfall in England, with this falling to just one per cent in the south.
The UK is experiencing its fourth heatwave of the year, with temperatures predicted to reach 35C for the seventh time this year today.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), in collaboration with the Met Office, issued a warning for the East Midlands, South East, East of England and London for this week.
The warning is in place until 9am on Thursday, with the agency warning of increased health risks, particularly to the vulnerable, elderly and very young.
Wales declared drought last week in some of its regions, including North Gwynedd, Ynys Mon, South Gwynedd, Dee (Wales), Clwyd, and Upper Severn.
The alerts flag a likely rise in deaths, especially among the over-65s, along with wider effects on younger people.
Hospitals and care homes could also see indoor temperatures climb above safe limits, while the risk of water-related incidents, including cold-water shock and drowning, is expected to grow.
The UKHSA has warned hot weather can raise the risk of heart attacks, strokes, lung problems and other illnesses.
Elderly people, babies and young children are especially vulnerable, as their bodies struggle to regulate temperature effectively.
The Met Office warning also included the increased risk of fires, which could be severe if they break out in parts of London, the south east and eastern England.
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The risk of wildfire “remains elevated across the UK”, fire chiefs have warned, with them calling for “everyone to play their part” to reduce the risk.
Emergency services have responded to 706 wildfires so far in 2026, with 208 of these recorded between July 16 to 28 alone, the National Fire Chiefs Council has said.
NFCC chairman Phil Garrigan said: “More than 200 wildfires in just 12 days shows how quickly the risk can escalate when hot, dry conditions take hold.
“The scenes we’re seeing across parts of Europe are a stark reminder of what a changing climate means for fire and rescue services.
“We are not seeing fires of that scale in the UK today, but the science tells us we should expect larger, more frequent and more complex wildfires in the future.”
Wildfires are tearing through parts of Europe, with France declaring the blazes are the worst it’s ever experienced.
July has been 3C above average across the UK, provisional data from the Met Office shows.
The Met Office has also issued a new daily temperature record of 38C for June.
Previously, it was understood the record was 37.7C, but today’s verification puts the temperature even higher.
The high temperatures partnered with little rainfall forced water companies to implement hosepipe bans for millions last week.
Thames Water imposed the latest ban, which impacted 10 million customers from using hoses and sprinklers to cool down and water parched gardens.
Seven suppliers, including Affinity Water, Anglian Water, Cambridge Water, South East Water, Southern Water, Thames Water and Welsh Water, have either imposed or announced bans.
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