Overview
- The Met Office forecasts a fifth heatwave developing through next week with temperatures expected to peak around 34°C to 36°C in parts of East Anglia and south‑east England.
- The UK Health Security Agency issued yellow heat‑health alerts that came into force on Saturday for much of England to warn vulnerable people and health services of rising heat‑related illness.
- The Environment Agency reported reservoir storage in England has fallen to about 69% of capacity and several water firms have introduced hosepipe bans that now affect roughly 26 million customers.
- Fire services have battled multiple large blazes; the major Dunwich Heath incident is now described as stable but forecasts and the Fire Severity Index signal a higher risk of severe fires across eastern and south‑eastern counties.
- Authorities and analysts warn the drought could last into September with ongoing impacts on crops, livestock and river ecology, and say a sixth heatwave remains possible if dry conditions continue.