A fourth heatwave of the year is currently underway in parts of the United Kingdom, with temperatures expected to reach up to 35C by Wednesday. [claim:1]

The UK Met Office reports that July has been 3°C above average across the United Kingdom. [claim:2] July 2026 has reached a mean temperature of 17.5°C, making it the second hottest month on record behind July 2006. [claim:13]

Provisional data from the UK Met Office shows that England has received 5% of its average July rainfall, while the UK as a whole has seen 20%. [claim:3] In England, July 2026 rainfall stands at 4.4mm, one of the lowest levels on record, tied with June 1925. [claim:14] Wisley in Surrey, England, has recorded 40 days without rain as of 27 July. [claim:15]

Health alerts and medical concerns

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber heat health alerts for the east and south-east of England, effective from 9am Wednesday until Thursday. [claim:5] Yellow heat health alerts are also in place for Yorkshire and the Humber, the West Midlands, and the south-west regions for the same period. [claim:7]

The UKHSA warned that the heat is likely to have a significant impact on the health of vulnerable people and increase demand on health services. [claim:6]

Wildfire risks and emergency response

Emergency services have already faced significant challenges during this period. At the height of the third heatwave in mid-July, firefighters were battling 19 significant wildfires simultaneously in England and Wales. [claim:12] In Scotland, residents of Nethy Bridge were evacuated after a large fire broke out in the Cairngorms National Park. [claim:11]

The UK National Fire Chiefs Council urged the public to avoid using disposable barbecues in parks, the countryside, and other green spaces, and to exercise care with cigarette butts. [claim:9] A spokesperson for the council stated that a small fire can quickly escalate, threatening communities, wildlife, and firefighters. [claim:9]

The UK has already experienced more days above 30°C than ever before in a single year. [claim:4]