UK Faces Fifth Heatwave of the Year as Drought Spreads and 23 Million Under Hosepipe Bans

The United Kingdom is bracing for its fifth heatwave of the year after a brief respite on Monday, with temperatures expected to peak on Thursday across much of England and Wales. Meanwhile, the drought crisis is deepening, with half of England and all of Wales already officially in drought status and millions of people facing hosepipe restrictions.

The National Drought Group — a body comprising regulators, government officials, water companies, and agricultural organisations — met on Monday to determine whether additional regions of England would be formally declared in drought. The Environment Agency has already suggested that more areas are likely to be added to the list.

Scale of the drought crisis

Water supplies are under severe stress. Around 23 million people in England are already subject to hosepipe bans. River levels have continued to fall after less than 10mm of rain fell across England for the seventh consecutive week. East and south-east England have recorded less than 1mm of precipitation. Reservoir levels have also continued to decline, with almost all reservoirs in England sitting below normal levels and five classified as exceptionally low by the Environment Agency.

Parts of southern England are on track to go nearly two months without significant rainfall. The National Farmers Union has warned that continuing dry weather could lead to food shortages in the months ahead.

Fifth heatwave incoming

Following Monday's slight cooling, temperatures are forecast to rise sharply through the week, with the peak of an intense heatwave expected on Thursday. The pattern echoes the summer's previous four heatwave events and marks a stark indicator of the changing climate affecting the British Isles.