The east Midlands, east of England, London and the south east are all under amber heat health alerts
Amber and yellow heat alerts are coming into force across the country as the UK braces for a fourth heatwave.
With temperatures expected to reach 34C on Wednesday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned the rising temperatures may increase health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups.
Yorkshire and The Humber, the west Midlands and the south west of England are all under yellow alerts while the east Midlands, east of England, London and the south east are all under amber warnings.
Forecasters are warning parts of the south and south east of England could see “exceptionally severe” wildfires spread this week due to the extremely hot and dry conditions after a sweltering and exceptionally dry June left the UK’s most parched regions without rain for weeks.
Fire and rescue services in England and Wales have responded to 706 wildfires so far in 2026, with 208 incidents recorded between 16 July and 28 alone, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said.
Parts of Wales have already declared drought status, while swathes of England are in “prolonged dry weather” status, which is the last stage before a drought is declared.
The Cairngorms in Scotland have been hit by a major wildfire while blazes have wrought destruction in mainland Europe this week.
A number of amber and yellow heat health alerts are coming into force from 9am on Wednesday as the most extreme heat is expected this afternoon.
Yorkshire and The Humber, the west Midlands and the south west of England are all under yellow alerts. Meanwhile the east Midlands, east of England, London and the south east are all under amber heat health alerts.
UKHSA experts have warned that there will be an increased risk of life to vulnerable people with a potential rise in deaths among the elderly in areas under amber alerts.
With an increased potential for indoor environments to become warm, the agency warned that care settings may exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment in areas particularly affected by the heat.
There could also be an increased incidence of water-related issues, including risks from cold‑water shock and drowning.
Temperatures are expected to peak in Chelmsford, Essex, at 34C today in what is expected to be the peak of the heatwave around 4pm.
Animal rescue centres are “fit to bursting” with hedgehogs and foxes suffering from heatstroke during one of the hottest summers on record, the RSPCA said.
Gardeners are being urged to create shaded spaces for wildlife struggling to keep cool during the scorching weather as the fourth heatwave of the year looms.
The animal welfare charity said two baby hedgehogs were found “in distress” in a back garden in Somerset and brought into the nearby West Hatch Wildlife Centre, where they are being cared for along with “several other recent admissions” due to the heat.
Record-breaking temperatures were recorded in both May and June, and July has been 3C above average across the UK, according to provisional Met Office data on the month so far.
Recent research from veterinary group Inspiring Vet Care found that in June this year its clinics treated 179 cases of suspected heatstroke – 66 per cent higher than the 108 cases treated in the same month two years prior.
Some 316 hedgehogs were admitted to the RSPCA’s four wildlife centres in June, a 56 per cent rise on the 202 admitted in the same month the previous year.
Images showed widespread brown grass across Blackheath in London, with parched dry grass present in many parks in the capital following the hot weather.
It comes as Royal Parks staff were advised not to leave deckchairs under trees over fears branches will fall during hot weather.
Fire chiefs said many wildfires are caused by everyday human activity, adding that “disposing of cigarettes safely, avoiding the use of disposable barbecues in open spaces and taking litter home can significantly reduce the risk of fires starting”.
A Met Office assessment showed fires could be exceptionally severe by Wednesday if they start in parts of London, the South East and eastern England, as a result of the hot, dry conditions.
Fire and rescue services in England and Wales have responded to 706 wildfires so far in 2026, with 208 incidents recorded between July 16 and 28 alone, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said.
It added that the latest figures, which do not account for wildfires across the rest of the UK such as a major wildfire in the Cairngorms in Scotland, show “how quickly wildfire activity can increase during prolonged periods of hot and dry weather”.
Fire chiefs warned that wildfire risk “remains elevated across the UK”, with the NFCC adding there were “currently eight live wildfire incidents being monitored through national reporting systems”.
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters were continuing to “make progress at the major wildfire incident at Tintwistle Moor” after 60 personnel were deployed on Tuesday.
While wildfire numbers in England and Wales remain below the 788 recorded by the same point last year, fire chiefs warned “continued dry conditions, combined with warmer temperatures and harvesting activity in many rural areas”, were creating conditions in which fires can start and spread rapidly.
Supermarket giant Waitrose has reported a surprise increase in certain meals during the heatwaves scorching the UK.
Sizzling temperatures may make you think of leafy salads and sunripe fresh vegetables, – but somewhat surprisingly, sales of winter comfort foods, such as cottage pies, gratins and red wine are on the rise.
The grocer said sales of cottage pies were up 110 per cent while chicken and ham gratin and South African red wine were both up 68 per cent over the last month.
Meanwhile, recipe searches on Waitrose.com for spaghetti bolognese, toad in the hole and mac ‘n’ cheese were up 91 per cent, 67 per cent and 57 per cent respectively.
The UK’s most parched regions have gone without rain for weeks, Met Office data has revealed.
Wisley, in Surrey, has had 40 consecutive “dry days”, in which no or only a trace of rain has been recorded, while Herstmonceux, West End, in East Sussex has had 37 dry days.
A number of other sites including Heathrow in London and spots in Worcestershire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Lincolnshire have all recorded more than 30 consecutive dry days.
The Prince of Wales said “devastating” wildfires across Europe are a “stark reminder of the challenges posed by an increasingly extreme climate”.
Fire crews and planes are currently attempting to bring a huge wildfire under control in south-west France, with fires also burning out of control around Madrid and in the Valencia region of Spain.
The UK Government has also offered military support to tackle the Cairngorms wildfire in Scotland.
In a personally signed message on social media, William wrote: “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the devastating wildfires across France, Spain and the UK.
“We are deeply grateful to the firefighters, emergency services and volunteers working 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 wildfires in the UK similar to those that have torn through France and Spain this summer, a minister has confirmed.
Blazes have wrought destruction in mainland Europe this week, with 220,000 forced out of their homes in southwest France and 116,000 evacuated in Spain.
Asked whether the UK is preparing for similar events, minister for intergovernmental relations Hamish Falconer, told Sky News: “Obviously there are wildfires in Scotland as well, and we’re in touch with the Scottish government about what support the British government can provide.
“But yes, we are preparing, and we know that we need to go further. These are incredibly concerning scenes around Bordeaux and in Spain.
“I think the Spanish government have been pretty clear that they think that the increasing ferocity of the wildfires that they face are a result of man-made climate change, and we do need to take those warnings very seriously indeed.”
Rather cloudy across the North, with outbreaks of rain sinking southwards into northern England during the afternoon. Dry and sunny across the South, where it will feel hot and humid.
Thursday will be fresher with sunshine and perhaps the odd shower. Mostly dry on Friday and Saturday with further sunshine developing at times. Still warm in the sunshine.
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