Britain is on high alert for wildfires as temperatures hit 32C in parts of the country – with more than six million homes banned from using hosepipes.
Amber heat health alerts have been issued across England, with authorities warning that soaring heat this weekend is likely to lead to an increase in deaths.
The mercury rocketed to 32C today in parts of central and southern England with the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East and South West also under amber alert.
The London Fire Brigade said that the risk of wildfires in the capital was ‘severe’, as 80 firefighters were called to extinguish a 14-acre grass fire in Wanstead Flats in the east of the city this afternoon.
The service has already responded to at least four wildifres this week and told the BBC there had been ‘countless’ other call outs to smaller fires in outdoor spaces and gardens.
‘With very little sign of rain during this heatwave, grass will become even drier, increasing the wildfire risk further each day,’ a brigade spokesperson said.
Firefighters are imploring Brits to properly put out cigarettes and to avoid using disposable barbecues due to the associated fire risk.
There are also wildfire warnings operating in Scotland and Northern Ireland as Britain is forced to contend with its third heatwave of the year.
Sunseeker Teigan Hunter, 24, enjoying the warm weather in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park
Two women shelter from the harsh heat under a sun umbrella, with one eating an ice cream to stay cool
Firefighters from London Fire Brigade put out a grass fire at Wanstead Flats on Friday afternoon as tenperatures in the capital hit 32C
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) issued an extreme wildfire warning from Friday to Monday.
The warning applies to central and eastern areas of Scotland today – but extends to ‘all areas, except low-lying areas with green grass, from Saturday 12 July until Monday 14 July’.
The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA’s) latest heat health warnings come as hot and dry weather scorches England, with temperatures set to rise further over the weekend.
The alert comes into effect at 12pm on Friday and will cover the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England and London until 9am on Monday, following two other amber alerts issued in consecutive weeks at the end of June amid two separate heatwaves.
The alert for the first heatwave on June 19 was the first time an amber alert had been issued since September 2023.
Temperatures reached 34C in the Midlands on Friday, and the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humber have been covered by a yellow heat health alert since midday.
Their website warns rising temperatures will have ‘significant impacts’ including ‘a rise in deaths’ – particularly among those aged 65 and above or with health conditions.
The UKSHA also predicts an ‘increased demand on all health and social care services’ and that the heat will have an impact on ‘the ability of the workforce to deliver services’.
A couple cool off as they walk through a water feature spraying a fine mist in Dover, Kent, on Friday
Bournemouth beach was full of families enjoying the hot weather on Friday
A spectator fans themselves during day 11 of Wimbledon in London
Swimmers making a splash in Clevedon, Somerset, on Friday afternoon
A sunbather soaking up the rays in Folkestone, Kent
Hot visitors cool down outside the Bank of England in London on Friday afternoon
Experts predict the heat will have an impact on ‘the ability of the workforce to deliver services’
A man sunbaths in St James’s Park in London as the mercury is set to hit 32C
A lady cooling off as she walked through a water feature spraying a fine mist in Dover, Kent
A Wimbledon spectator fans herself in a bid to get cool
Revellers enjoy the water and sunbathing at Clevedon Marine Lake, Somerset
A high of 34.2C was recorded at Astwood Bank, near Worcester, on Friday, the Met Office said.
It comes as a second hosepipe ban has been introduced in Kent and Sussex with thousands of customers in Yorkshire already restricting their water usage.
Those supplied by South East Water will not be able to use their hosepipes for any reason from July 18.
The company said the region has endured its driest spring since 1893 and has had to supply up to 680million litres of water in 24 hours as temperatures soar.
A spokesperson added: ‘This situation has left us with no choice but to restrict the use of hosepipes and sprinklers, so we can help our reservoirs and underground water storage recover.’
South East Water warned that it will prosecute those who disobey the ban by slapping them with fines of up to £1,000.
A hosepipe ban also began today in areas supplied by Yorkshire Water, which will affect more than 5.7million homes in Yorkshire, Derbyshire and North Lincolnshire.
Yorkshire Water placed a ban on the use of hosepipes for activities such as watering the garden, cleaning cars, filling paddling pools or ponds, or cleaning paths, walls or windows, in an attempt to protect water supplies in the face of yet more dry weather.
Customers flouting the ban could face fines of up to £1,000, but the company has said ‘we hope it won’t come to that’ as it urged households to help conserve water by sticking to the restrictions.
The new ban comes after 80 firefighters were called to tackle a grass fire yesterday in Rainham, Essex.
As thermometers shot into the 30s, fire chiefs warned about the very real risk of wildfires in some of our major cities.
London Fire Brigade Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jamie Jenkins said: ‘London is experiencing its third heatwave of the summer, which looks like it will last into next week.
‘Whilst many people will be looking forward to spending time in the sunshine, we are also urging everyone to be responsible to prevent wildfires or tragedies around the water.
‘Despite the heavy rainfall earlier this week, the Natural Hazards Partnership has assessed that the risk of wildfires in London is currently severe.
‘This is because rainfall overall this year has been well below-average. With very little sign of rain during this heatwave, grass will become even drier, increasing the wildfire risk further each day.
‘So far this year, firefighters have responded to around 23 wildfires in the capital, including four this week. There have also been countless call-outs to smaller fires involving grass, trees and in other outdoor spaces, as well as in people’s gardens.
‘During this latest heatwave, it is important everyone acts responsibly to prevent fires from occurring.
As the weather has been so dry, it only takes a few sparks to lead to a fire spreading rapidly. In London, this is can be dangerous because so many of our green spaces lie close to homes and other properties.
‘If you’re heading out, please don’t take a disposable BBQ with you. They can retain heat for several hours after use and are banned by local authorities from many of London’s parks. Also make sure you are discarding of cigarettes properly and take rubbish home with you if no bins are available.
‘At home, make sure your BBQ is positioned away from flammable items like fences, sheds, decking and trees and please don’t have any type of BBQ on your balcony.
We’re also strongly advising people to avoid burning any waste in this type of weather and to not have bonfires, particularly in their gardens.’
Wimbledon fans shelter under umbrellas on The Hill as Taylor Fritz prepares to take on Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s semi finals
Londoners sit on deckchairs in Paternoster Square on Friday afternoon
Sunbathers soaking up the 32C heat in Folkestone, Kent, on Friday
Emergency services have also been cautioning the public about staying safe when venturing into any bodies of water to take the edge off the sweltering heat.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jamie Jenkins added: ‘We know people will be looking for ways to cool off during this heatwave, but please don’t be tempted to jump into open water. Sadly, we’re currently seeing around two incidents every day where someone is in difficulty in the water.
‘Open water may look inviting, but it’s unpredictable. Strong currents, underwater hazards, and cold-water shock all pose serious risks.’
Meanwhile, temperatures in Northern Ireland are set to reach around 25C over the weekend. Data from the Met Office forecasts temperatures to reach 26C and to rise over the coming days.
Water Safety Ireland urged anyone visiting the beach to enter the water slowly.
It said: ‘Whether you’re swimming, surfing, or paddleboarding, make safety your top priority.
‘Enter the water slowly to avoid cold water shock. Supervise children and hold their hand near water. Never use inflatables in open water.’
Across the Irish Sea, central Scotland will see temperatures soar to 28C with its capital Edinburgh baking in 27C.
As the country prepares for the very warm weather, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution has urged families to put safety first.
Swimmers take a dip to cool down in Clevedon, Somerset
The RNLI urged people to visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flag, to check the weather forecast and tide times, and to read local hazard signage to understand local risks.
In agreement, the Health and Safety Executive added that the people most at risk during hot weather include babies, young children, people over 65 and those with underlying health conditions, including heart and breathing problems as well as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Those who spend a lot of time outside or in hot places – such as those who work outdoors or the homeless – are also at high risk.
Their advice for staying cool indoors is to turn off the lights, close windows that face the sun and open them only at night when temperatures drop.
While outdoors, people should stay in the shade and regularly apply a UVA and UVB water-resistant sunscreen to skin that is not covered.
Factor 30-plus should be used for adults while 50-plus should be applied on children.
People are also advised to drink plenty of fluids.
Water or oral rehydration sachets are considered the best option.
A Wimbledon spectator fans herself to stay cool during high temperatures ahead of the men’s semi-final on Friday
Diving in headfirst! Family enjoys day out at Clevedon’s open-air swimming pool as temperatures peak to 32C
Festival goers at Glasgow’s TRNSMT festival on Friday afternoon
Sunbathers enjoy the heatwave at Folkestone beach in Kent
Here come the girls! Festival goers hit TRNSMT festival during the balmy weather
Depleted water levels at Baitings Reservoir in Ripponden, West Yorkshire, yesterday
A man uses a hosepipe to clean a carpet in the street in Leeds yesterday, on the eve of the ban
People sit on the dried up bed of Baitings Reservoir in Ripponden, West Yorkshire, yesterday
While residents in Yorkshire and Sussex are being encouraged to conserve water, exceptions include using hosepipes to clean animals and fill drinking troughs.
People can still wash their car and water their gardens using tap water from a bucket or watering can, while businesses will be allowed to use a hosepipe if it is directly related to an essential commercial purpose – but not for other uses such as cleaning paths outside a business property.
And they’re not the only ones, with Thames Water revealing this week that it would impose a hosepipe ban after ‘ongoing dry weather and increased customer demand’ unless the situation ‘changes significantly’.
The forecast for the coming days suggests temperatures could reach 32C in parts of central and southern England on Friday and are expected to remain high into the weekend, with a yellow heat health alert in place for all regions in England until July 15.
The alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency, warns of the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over, or with health conditions, because of the heat.
In Birmingham the body of a teenage boy was found in a lake yesterday after a huge search operation in a popular water park.
Emergency services descended on Powell’s Pool, a large body of water on the edge of the park near the Boldmere area of Sutton Coldfield at around 9pm following reports a boy had gone missing.
Boat crews were seen on the water and the emergency services continued to work after dark, using torches to search the pool.
80 firefighters were called to tackle a grass fire on Rainham Road in Rainham, Essex, yesterday
London Fire Brigade said about ten hectares of grass and shrubland were destroyed in Rainham
A man walks through a parched Greenwich Park in South East London yesterday
West Midlands Police are supporting the family of the boy and were not treating the death as suspicious after people flocked to Sutton Park to try and escape the heat.
Possible highs of 33C on Saturday mean the third heatwave will fall short of the top temperatures recorded earlier in July, but will be more widespread, Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell said.
‘For the next three days or so, high pressure is in charge across the UK, bringing in relatively settled conditions,’ Mr Snell said
‘For most of the UK, it will be dry, sunny and warm. The temperatures will probably peak either Friday or Saturday, with highs potentially of 32C or 33C.
‘As we go into Sunday, the eastern half of the UK might start to just cool down a tad. It’s still going to be very warm, but could jump down a degree or two.
‘In the second half of the weekend some coastal areas, like the North Sea coast, may turn a little bit murky at times, but the weekend is generally hot and sunny for most parts of the country.
‘That will obviously come with very high UV levels for most of us and also very high grass pollen levels, so not great news for hayfever sufferers.’
The 35.8C (78.4F) at Faversham in Kent on July 1 during the second heatwave of 2025 was the UK’s hottest day in three years.
A man sunbathes at Greenwich Park in London yesterday during the third heatwave of summer
An aerial view of dry fields in York yesterday before the hosepipe ban is introduced
A man sunbathes at Greenwich Park in London yesterday during the third heatwave of summer
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has urged people to drink water regularly, seek shade and use sunscreen.
Steve Cole, policy director at RoSPA, said: ‘Heat is no longer just a holiday perk, it’s a growing public health risk.
‘We’re seeing more frequent and intense heatwaves, both in the UK and globally, and the data shows a clear rise in heat-related illness and fatalities.’
Temperatures will fall slightly by Monday, with highs of 28C expected in London and ‘fresher’ conditions in the north of England, with highs between 20C and 24C.
Rain could come in ‘showers and thunderstorms’, Mr Snell said, most likely in northern England.
The rain would be a relief for water companies after reservoir levels fell at nearly three-quarters of sites during June and are below average in all regions, with storage at four sites classed as ‘exceptionally low’.
These are Blagdon in Somerset (62 per cent), Blithfield in Staffordshire (59 per cent), Derwent Valley in Derbyshire (58 per cent) and Yorkshire Supply Group (55 per cent).
The Environment Agency has also declared a state of ‘prolonged dry weather’ in large parts of Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey – meaning a heightened risk of drought.
Thames Water said daily demand in Swindon and Oxfordshire peaked during the UK’s last heatwave on June 30 at a level not seen since in the 2022 drought.
People are being encouraged to take shorter showers, turn the tap off while brushing teeth and letting their lawn go dry to help reduce big increases in demand.
Water bosses also warned that the extended warm weather was bringing ‘increased risks of leaks and bursts due to pipe stress and shifting foundations in the ground’.