UK braces for fifth heatwave as temperatures near 36 °C and drought spreads
A fifth heatwave is forecast for the United Kingdom, with temperatures expected to climb to around 36 °C in East Anglia and the south‑east by Thursday. The UK Health Security Agency has issued yellow heat‑health alerts covering most of England and Wales from Saturday morning until Tuesday night, warning of pressure on health services and increased risk of heat‑related illness.
The country is also facing worsening drought conditions. England has recorded less than 10 mm of rain for seven consecutive weeks, and about half of England and all of Wales are already classified as being in drought after the driest July on record. South West Water announced a hose‑pipe ban affecting nearly 26 million people across central and southern England and Wales.
Earlier in the summer, two record‑breaking heatwaves in May and June caused more than 2,800 excess deaths. Recent weeks have seen several large wildfires at sites such as Dunwich Heath, Headon Warren, Llanwonno and the Cairngorms National Park. Deputy chief forecaster Mike Silverstone and Environment Agency director Helen Wakeham highlighted the serious and long‑lasting impacts on health, the environment and the economy.
Entities: Environment Agency · Helen Wakeham · Met Office · Mike Silverstone · South West Water · UK Health Security Agency · UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) · United Kingdom
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 8 SOURCES] The UK Health Security Agency issued yellow heat‑health alerts for most of England and Wales from Saturday to Tuesday. (multiple articles)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The United Kingdom is experiencing its fifth heatwave of the year. (multiple articles)
- [● 2 SOURCES] England has received less than 10 mm of rainfall for seven consecutive weeks. (multiple articles)
- [● 2 SOURCES] More than 2,800 excess deaths were recorded during the record‑breaking heatwaves in May and June 2026. (multiple articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Recent weeks have seen large wildfires at Dunwich Heath, Headon Warren, Llanwonno and the Cairngorms National Park. (multiple articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] South West Water announced a hose‑pipe ban affecting nearly 26 million people in central and southern England and Wales. (multiple articles)
- [● 6 SOURCES] Temperatures are forecast to reach up to 36 °C in East Anglia and south‑east England by Thursday. (multiple articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] About half of England and all of Wales are already in drought after the driest July on record. (multiple articles)