The United Kingdom is preparing for its third heatwave of the year, with temperatures forecasted to exceed 30°C across several regions for up to ten consecutive days. The heat is expected to intensify beginning Thursday, reaching as high as 34°C in some locations. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber heat alerts for the English Midlands, eastern England, and southern England, effective from 9 a.m. Thursday until 9 p.m. Sunday.

The UKHSA warned that the elevated temperatures could strain health and social care services, particularly affecting elderly and vulnerable populations who may require additional support. The agency also cautioned that there could be an increase in heat-related deaths, especially among individuals over 65 or those with existing health conditions.

A heatwave in the UK is defined by sustained daytime temperatures meeting specific thresholds: 28°C for three consecutive days in London and the South East, and 25°C in northern parts of the country. According to Becky Mitchell, a meteorologist at the Met Office, temperatures in the South East this weekend are expected to reach the high 20s Celsius, with peaks possibly hitting 34°C early next week. Wales is also projected to experience temperatures around 30°C. While the upcoming heatwave is likely to be longer-lasting, it is not anticipated to be as hot or humid as the previous one in June.

Scotland will see maximum temperatures reaching up to 27°C, with daytime highs above 20°C expected throughout the country, while Northern Ireland’s temperatures are forecasted to rise from 21°C on Wednesday to around 27°C on Friday.

In response to the ongoing dry conditions and rising heat, water restrictions have been implemented in several regions. Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are subject to hosepipe bans due to significantly reduced river levels. Southern Water reported that river levels in the area are approximately 25% below the expected levels for this time of year, noting that the River Test has lost roughly one-third of its water supply over the past month.

Similarly, South East Water imposed a statutory hosepipe ban on Friday for about 850,000 customers in Kent and parts of East Sussex, with the company maintaining the situation under ongoing review. Anglian Water, serving Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, and Suffolk, has reconsidered its stance on water restrictions. Initially stating in June that no hosepipe bans were planned for the summer, Anglian Water’s director of water services, Ian Rule, indicated that while no bans are currently in effect, the rapid changes in conditions mean they cannot be ruled out as the season progresses.