The United Kingdom is experiencing its third heatwave in less than three months, with temperatures reaching new records and prompting widespread responses across various sectors. On Thursday, Wisley, Surrey, recorded a temperature of 35.1°C, marking the eighth day this year that temperatures have exceeded 34°C—a new calendar-year record for the UK, surpassing the previous high of seven days set in 1976 and matched in 2020. This latest heatwave follows earlier spells in late May and June, which themselves broke temperature records, including the highest May temperature of 35.1°C recorded at Kew Gardens on May 26 and the highest June temperature of 37.7°C in Lingwood, Norfolk, on June 26.
The prolonged heat has raised concerns about drought conditions, particularly in regions such as East Anglia, Devon, and Cornwall. Water companies across the southeast and east of England have imposed hosepipe bans, with South East Water having introduced restrictions on July 3 in Kent, followed by Southern Water in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Anglian Water is set to commence a temporary use ban from July 11, and Cambridge Water has announced its first hosepipe ban in 30 years, starting July 17. These measures reflect growing worries over water supply amid the ongoing dry and hot conditions.
The National Drought Group has identified certain areas at higher risk, and officials are monitoring the situation closely. Meanwhile, the heat has also impacted transportation and infrastructure, leading to speed restrictions and service delays on parts of the rail network.
In agriculture, early crop ripening caused by the heat has prompted some farmers to start harvesting earlier than usual. Waitrose began its earliest-ever wheat harvest on its Leckford Estate in Hampshire, with the typical harvest season spanning late July through October.
The UK Health Security Agency raised its heat-health alert to amber for the North West and Yorkshire and Humber regions from midday Thursday through Sunday evening. Hospitals have reported increased emergency department attendances, though some healthcare organizations have attributed strains on services to broader systemic issues rather than the hot weather alone.
Coastal sea temperatures have also risen substantially, with buoys recording ocean water several degrees warmer than average at various locations, raising concerns among scientists about potential marine heatwaves and their impact on aquatic life.
Meteorologists forecast that temperatures will continue around or above 30°C in many areas over the weekend, with a peak near 35°C west of London, before a gradual cooling trend begins in the coming week.
Experts point to the persistent high temperatures as indicative of broader climate change impacts, underscoring the challenges posed by increasingly frequent and intense heat events in the UK and across Europe.