Large areas of England and Wales face their fourth heatwave of 2026 as temperatures climb toward 35°C in the southeast, triggering amber and yellow heat-health alerts from the UK Health Security Agency amid ongoing drought conditions and record-low rainfall levels.
Amber Heat-Health Alerts and Short-Lived Temperature Spikes
Temperatures across parts of the UK are heading upward once again, marking the arrival of the year’s fourth heatwave as conditions are set to remain changeable in Greater Manchester. Following a brief respite that brought dropping temperatures and welcome rain to parts of the country, dry weather and sunny conditions return to much of England, Wales, and eastern Scotland.
The sudden warmth prompted the UK Health Security Agency to issue official heat-health warnings. Amber alerts are in force across the East Midlands, East of England, London, and the South East, while less severe yellow warnings cover the South West, West Midlands, and Yorkshire and The Humber. These alerts remain active for 24 hours, taking effect at 9 a.m. on Wednesday and lifting at 9 a.m. on Thursday.
Met Office Forecast and Regional Contrasts
Maximum temperatures could reach 35°C across southeastern England during the peak of the heat. By Thursday, a gradual transition toward cooler conditions begins across much of the UK, though the southeast is expected to hold onto the warmth a little longer with temperatures widely hovering around 29°C.
“This is a short-lived spell of heat, but temperatures will climb quickly through the first half of the week, particularly in the southeast. By Wednesday, some areas could see temperatures in the mid-30Cs, and while the heat will not be widespread across the whole of the UK, it will be enough for parts of the southeast to likely meet official heatwave criteria by Thursday.”
Gregory Wolverson, Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster
While southeastern England bakes, areas further north and west experience a markedly different pattern. Met Office forecasters note that regions such as Greater Manchester and northwest England face changeable weather accompanied by rain or drizzle at times. Northern areas may also see heavier showers carrying a small risk of isolated thunderstorms as the week progresses.
Severe Drought and Parched Soil
This latest surge of hot weather arrives on the heels of an ongoing lack of rain that has left millions of households under hosepipe bans and provided dry vegetation ready to fuel wildfires in multiple areas. Although parts of the country saw some rain over the weekend, central, southern, and eastern England received little if any meaningful precipitation.
According to the Met Office, rainfall across England this month stands at just 4.4mm, ranking among the lowest levels on record. It trails only February 1891, which recorded 3.3mm, and ties with June 1925 at 4.4mm. In Wales, where drought conditions were triggered in certain parts, July 2026 ranks as the fourth driest month since records began. In Surrey, Wisley marked 40 days with no rain as of July 27.
August Long-Range Outlook and Shifting Patterns
Looking toward the start of August, long-range forecasts from the Met Office indicate that conditions will stay mostly dry away from the north and northwest initially, where scattered showers are expected. Western areas carry a small chance of seeing some rain by the end of the weekend.
Temperatures will range from around average in the northwest to warm in the southeast, where conditions may turn very warm over the weekend. However, with dry ground and low soil moisture levels persisting from the prolonged dry spell, the incoming heat is likely to become an increasing concern before any substantial relief arrives.
