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| UK weather: Heat health alerts in force amid water shortage fears | UK weather: Heat health alerts in force amid water shortage fears |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The RSPCA encourages owners to walk dogs early in the morning and later in the evening during hot weather | The RSPCA encourages owners to walk dogs early in the morning and later in the evening during hot weather |
| Heat health alerts have come into force across England on Tuesday morning, ahead of the expected peak of the UK's fourth heatwave of the year. | Heat health alerts have come into force across England on Tuesday morning, ahead of the expected peak of the UK's fourth heatwave of the year. |
| Much of England and Wales will see 25-28C, reaching 34C in some areas, with heatwave thresholds likely to be met in several regions this week. | Much of England and Wales will see 25-28C, reaching 34C in some areas, with heatwave thresholds likely to be met in several regions this week. |
| In central and southern areas, amber heat health alerts mean a rise in deaths and increased demand on health services, as well as travel disruptions, are likely. | In central and southern areas, amber heat health alerts mean a rise in deaths and increased demand on health services, as well as travel disruptions, are likely. |
| After a dry spring and a string of summer heatwaves, England is now suffering from "nationally significant" water shortfalls, the national drought group - which includes the Met Office, regulators, the government and water companies - has warned. | After a dry spring and a string of summer heatwaves, England is now suffering from "nationally significant" water shortfalls, the national drought group - which includes the Met Office, regulators, the government and water companies - has warned. |
| Follow updates on this story | Follow updates on this story |
| How do heat health alerts work? | How do heat health alerts work? |
| What are UV levels and how can you protect yourself? | What are UV levels and how can you protect yourself? |
| The group said England is experiencing widespread environmental and agricultural effects from the shortage of water, which was hitting crop yields, reducing feed for livestock, damaging river wildlife and wetlands, as well as increasing wildfires. | The group said England is experiencing widespread environmental and agricultural effects from the shortage of water, which was hitting crop yields, reducing feed for livestock, damaging river wildlife and wetlands, as well as increasing wildfires. |
| The amber heat health alerts, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), came into effect across the Midlands, East Anglia, London and south-east England at 09:00 BST and continue until 18:00 on Wednesday. | The amber heat health alerts, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), came into effect across the Midlands, East Anglia, London and south-east England at 09:00 BST and continue until 18:00 on Wednesday. |
| Less severe yellow alerts - indicating negative effects on the vulnerable and health services are possible - will cover the rest of England. | Less severe yellow alerts - indicating negative effects on the vulnerable and health services are possible - will cover the rest of England. |
| Dr Paul Coleman, a consultant in public health at the UKHSA, said there were signs that people were becoming more aware of the dangers of hotter summer weather. | |
| "I think the really reassuring thing is that it does seem to be that people are adapting better to it," he told the BBC. | |
| "While I think we will see more of it in the future, it seems that people are making the right decisions in protecting themselves from the impacts of hot weather." | |
| Overheating can lead to heat exhaustion or heatstroke. While the former is less serious, the latter is a medical emergency thar requires immediate treatment. | |
| Older adults, young children and people with long-term health conditions are especially at risk. | |
| The cycle of heatwaves has also started to affect rail services, with cancellations and speed restrictions in place on Greater Anglia and South Western services. | |
| The heat and lack of rain has caused the soil under the tracks in some areas of the south of England to shrink, something known as "soil moisture deficit", making tracks uneven in some places. | |
| Droughts began to occur earlier this summer following a long period of low rainfall and the sixth driest spring since records began in 1836. | Droughts began to occur earlier this summer following a long period of low rainfall and the sixth driest spring since records began in 1836. |
| Millions of people in England are now under hosepipe bans aimed at limiting water consumption. | |
| While water companies have blamed the heat and lack of rain, they have faced criticism over leaks from the water infrastructure they manage. | While water companies have blamed the heat and lack of rain, they have faced criticism over leaks from the water infrastructure they manage. |
| The GMB union called Thames Water's hosepipe ban "disgraceful" given it alone had leaked 200 billion litres of water in the past year. | The GMB union called Thames Water's hosepipe ban "disgraceful" given it alone had leaked 200 billion litres of water in the past year. |
| Many reservoirs in northern England, like Baitings Reservoir in Yorkshire, have hit extremely low levels | |
| The hot weather has also been causing challenges for farmers across England as they approach the harvest. | The hot weather has also been causing challenges for farmers across England as they approach the harvest. |
| "It looks like this year's harvest will be catastrophic," Clarkson's Farm star Jeremy Clarkson wrote on social media. "That should be a worry for anyone who eats food." | "It looks like this year's harvest will be catastrophic," Clarkson's Farm star Jeremy Clarkson wrote on social media. "That should be a worry for anyone who eats food." |
| Norfolk had three heatwaves this summer before the latest bout of warm weather, which affected crop yields including wheat and barley. | Norfolk had three heatwaves this summer before the latest bout of warm weather, which affected crop yields including wheat and barley. |
| Farmer Kit Papworth said: "[The] harvest is earlier but yields have been depressed, we just haven't got the crop that we normally would have." | Farmer Kit Papworth said: "[The] harvest is earlier but yields have been depressed, we just haven't got the crop that we normally would have." |
| Martin Williams, a third-generation arable farmer in Herefordshire, said 2025 could be a write-off for his crop. | Martin Williams, a third-generation arable farmer in Herefordshire, said 2025 could be a write-off for his crop. |
| "It's burnt to brown, it looks like toast. It's all straggly and dead, and it's not really good for much at all." | "It's burnt to brown, it looks like toast. It's all straggly and dead, and it's not really good for much at all." |
| The UK has been drawing in some very warm air from Europe, where temperatures have been particularly high | The UK has been drawing in some very warm air from Europe, where temperatures have been particularly high |
| While linking climate change with specific individual extreme weather events can be difficult, scientists say that climate change is generally making heatwaves hotter, longer and more frequent. | |
| Sir David King, Chair of the Global Climate Crisis Advisory Group and a former chief scientific adviser to the government, told the BBC that drought conditions in England were "a clear signal that climate collapse is unravelling our water, food and natural systems". | |
| "This crisis demands a fundamental shift that places real value on our planet and environment, invests in nature, restores water cycles and transforms how we use every drop [of water]", he said. | |
| There have been 13 days so far this year that have seen temperatures in excess of 30C. | There have been 13 days so far this year that have seen temperatures in excess of 30C. |
| That number will rise further this week, but is still less than the 19 days in 2022 and 34 days in 1995. | That number will rise further this week, but is still less than the 19 days in 2022 and 34 days in 1995. |
| While not all parts of the UK will enter a heatwave this week, some areas are expected to enter a heatwave on Wednesday, when they surpass a temperature threshold that varies by region for at least three consecutive days. | While not all parts of the UK will enter a heatwave this week, some areas are expected to enter a heatwave on Wednesday, when they surpass a temperature threshold that varies by region for at least three consecutive days. |
| Highest temperatures of 2025: | Highest temperatures of 2025: |
| England - 35.8C Faversham, 1July | England - 35.8C Faversham, 1July |
| Wales - 33.1C Cardiff Bute Park, 12 July | Wales - 33.1C Cardiff Bute Park, 12 July |
| Scotland - 32.2C Aviemore, 12 July | Scotland - 32.2C Aviemore, 12 July |
| Northern Ireland - 30C Magilligan, 12 July | Northern Ireland - 30C Magilligan, 12 July |
| Conditions will remain warm for a third day on Wednesday, though temperatures could dip a little in the west. | Conditions will remain warm for a third day on Wednesday, though temperatures could dip a little in the west. |
| The heat will ease for most on Thursday with some thunderstorms and some cooler, less humid air into Friday - but temperatures could rise again into the weekend. | The heat will ease for most on Thursday with some thunderstorms and some cooler, less humid air into Friday - but temperatures could rise again into the weekend. |