The UK is preparing for its fifth heatwave of 2024 as new yellow heat health alerts come into effect from 9am on Saturday, 8 August, running until 9pm on Tuesday. The Met Office has issued these alerts signalling that the soaring temperatures are likely to impact public health across several regions.
Temperatures are expected to climb steadily over the weekend, with heatwave conditions returning to parts of the country. By Thursday, some areas in East Anglia and south-east England could experience highs reaching 36°C.
This summer has already seen multiple intense heatwaves, including two in May and June that broke records and resulted in over 2,800 excess deaths. July brought two additional heatwaves contributing to drought conditions and widespread wildfires across the UK.
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The highest temperature recorded this year was 38°C at Lingwood, Norfolk, on 28 June. So far, there have been 33 days with temperatures exceeding 30°C somewhere in the UK, putting the 1995 record of 34 such days within reach to be surpassed next week.
Forecasts indicate a marked north-south divide over the weekend: Scotland and Northern Ireland can expect spells of heavy rain, whereas England and Wales should remain mostly dry and sunny, with temperatures climbing.
Saturday may see temperatures reaching 30°C, rising into the low 30s across southern and south-east England on Sunday. By Tuesday, highs of up to 30°C are expected in parts of England and Wales, increasing further to between 32°C and 34°C on Wednesday, with Thursday currently forecast as the hottest day.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued yellow heat health alerts covering the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London.
Meanwhile, the National Trust has launched a petition urging the Government to prioritise tackling climate change as a national mission, prompted by recent wildfires including significant incidents at Dunwich Heath (Suffolk), Headon Warren (Isle of Wight), Llanwonno (Rhondda Valleys, South Wales), and the Cairngorms National Park (Scotland).
Fire risk assessments warn that on Sunday, fire severity could reach “exceptional” levels-its highest ranking-in much of the east and south-east of England. The Fire Severity Index incorporates data on rainfall, temperature and humidity to determine potential fire intensity, but it does not predict the likelihood of wildfires.
Meanwhile, reservoir storage in England has fallen to 69%, down from 72% the previous week, and nearly 12 percentage points below the long-term average for this time of year, according to the Environment Agency. Reservoir levels have declined steadily since June, which ended with an average storage of 85%.
Currently, five reservoirs are considered to have “exceptionally low” water levels: Blagdon in Somerset (54% full), Clywedog in Powys (62%), supplying central and north-west England, the Dove group in Derbyshire (74%), Hanningfield in Essex (60%), and Wimbleball in Somerset (50%).
July was the driest on record for England and Wales since records began in 1836, with nineteen counties experiencing virtually no rainfall (1mm or less) during the entire month, the Met Office reported.