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.
The UK Met Office reports that July has been 3°C above average across the United Kingdom. July 2026 has reached a mean temperature of 17.5°C, making it the second hottest month on record behind July 2006.
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%. In England, July 2026 rainfall stands at 4.4mm, one of the lowest levels on record, tied with June 1925. Wisley in Surrey, England, has recorded 40 days without rain as of 27 July.
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. 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.
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.
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. In Scotland, residents of Nethy Bridge were evacuated after a large fire broke out in the Cairngorms National Park.
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. A spokesperson for the council stated that a small fire can quickly escalate, threatening communities, wildlife, and firefighters.
The UK has already experienced more days above 30°C than ever before in a single year.
