UK heatwave live: Temperatures to soar to 34C as heat health alerts issued for fourth heatwave of summer

The Met Office’s assessment showed fires could be exceptionally severe in parts of London, the south-east and eastern England by Wednesday as a result of hot, dry conditions.

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said fire and rescue services in England and Wales have responded to 706 bushfires so far in 2026, with 208 incidents recorded between 16 and 28 July alone.

He added that the latest figures, which do not take into account bushfires in the rest of the UK, such as a large bushfire in the Cairngorms in Scotland, showed “how quickly bushfire activity can increase during prolonged hot and dry periods”. weather”.

Fire chiefs have warned that the risk of bushfires “remains high across the UK”, with the NFCC adding that there are “currently eight live bushfire events being monitored through national reporting systems”.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters were continuing to “make progress on the major bushfire incident on Tintwistle Moor” after 60 personnel were deployed on Tuesday.

While bushfire numbers in England and Wales remain below the 788 recorded at the same point last year, fire chiefs have warned that “ongoing dry conditions, combined with warmer temperatures and harvesting activities in many rural areas” are creating conditions where fires can start and spread rapidly.

Supermarket giant Waitrose has reported a surprise increase in some meals during the heatwaves scorching the UK.

Sizzling temperatures may bring to mind leafy salads and fresh, sun-ripened veggies; but surprisingly, sales of wintery foods like cottage pies, gratins and red wine are on the rise.

The grocer said sales of cottage pies were up 110 percent, while chicken and ham gratin and South African red wine were up 68 percent compared to last month.

Meanwhile, on Waitrose.com, recipe searches for spaghetti bolognese, frog in the hole and macaroni cheese increased by 91 per cent, 67 per cent and 57 per cent respectively.

The driest parts of England have been without rain for weeks, according to Met Office data.

Wisley in Surrey experienced 40 consecutive “dry days” with little or no rain recorded; Herstmonceux in East Sussex, West End, experienced 37 dry days.

Heathrow in London and a number of other areas, including spots in Worcestershire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Lincolnshire, all recorded more than 30 consecutive dry days.

The Prince of Wales said “devastating” bushfires across Europe were “a stark reminder of the challenges posed by an increasingly extreme climate”.

Fire crews and planes are currently trying to contain a massive forest fire in southwestern France; Fires are also getting out of control around Madrid and in the Valencia region of Spain.

The UK Government has also offered military support to fight the Cairngorms bushfire in Scotland.

In a personally signed message on social media, William wrote: “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the devastating bushfires in France, Spain and the UK.

“We are deeply grateful to the firefighters, emergency services and volunteers who worked tirelessly in extraordinarily difficult conditions.

“These events are a stark reminder of the challenges posed by an increasingly extreme climate and the importance of protecting both people and nature.”

The government is preparing for bushfires in Britain similar to those in France and Spain this summer, a minister has confirmed.

Fires have wreaked havoc across mainland Europe this week; 220,000 people were forced from their homes in southwestern France and 116,000 were evacuated from Spain.

Asked whether the UK was preparing for similar events, intergovernmental relations minister Hamish Falconer told Sky News: “Obviously there are wildfires in Scotland as well and we are in contact with the Scottish government about the support the British government can provide.

“But yes, we are preparing and we know we need to go further. These are incredibly worrying scenes in Bordeaux and Spain.”

“I think the Spanish government has made it clear that they think the increasing severity of bushfires that they are facing is a consequence of human-caused climate change, and we need to take those warnings very seriously indeed.”

Fairly cloudy in the north, showers will fall southwards into northern England in the afternoon. It will feel dry and sunny, with hot and humid weather across the South.

Thursday will be fresher with sunshine and perhaps the odd shower. Friday and Saturday are mostly dry, with increased sunshine from time to time. It’s still warm in the sunlight.

Supermarket giant Waitrose has reported a surprise increase in some meals during the heatwaves scorching the UK.

Sizzling temperatures may bring to mind leafy salads and fresh, sun-ripened veggies; but surprisingly, sales of wintery foods like cottage pies, gratins and red wine are on the rise.

The grocer said sales of cottage pies were up 110 percent, while chicken and ham gratin and South African red wine were up 68 percent compared to last month.

Meanwhile, on Waitrose.com, recipe searches for spaghetti bolognese, frog in the hole and macaroni cheese increased by 91 per cent, 67 per cent and 57 per cent respectively.

Fire chiefs are preparing for the possibility of “severe” bushfires breaking out in England during a heatwave.

A spokesman for the National Fire Chiefs’ Council (NFCC) said: “With the Met Office warning that a fourth heatwave could develop this week, bringing another period of very hot weather to parts of the UK, fire and rescue services remain vigilant and continue to prepare for the renewed risk of bushfires.”

The UK has experienced record-breaking temperatures this summer; Severe drought and sweltering weather have turned the country’s green landscape brown and dry.

The Met Office has confirmed that last month was the UK’s warmest June on record; The temperature reached 37.7C in Lingwood, Norfolk, on the 26th. This exceeded the 35.6C set in 1957 and equaled the record set in 1976.

Sweltering temperatures continued into July; The year 2026 was the year when temperatures reached 35°C for the first time in May, June and July of the same year.

Many parts of the UK are at risk of drought due to prolonged hot and dry conditions; Lands and rivers are drying out in southern and eastern England.

Satellite images reveal the impact of these conditions on the natural environment, with extensive browning of green areas and farmland due to high evaporation and low rainfall.

You can see the images below: