Overview

• Incoming low-pressure cyclonic systems have unleashed heavy rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds across the UK, prompting flood alerts in parts of the country.
• Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and South East Water have imposed hosepipe bans that will impact around six million households in southern and central England.
• The Environment Agency warns drought designations could extend to five additional regions by September, raising concerns over water security.
• Met Office experts attribute the rapid swings between scorching heat and violent storms to elevated ground and sea temperatures feeding energy into the atmosphere.
• Meteorological charts now project a fourth heatwave by late July, with temperatures potentially reaching 32 °C in parts of southeast England.