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The ongoing heatwave across the UK is showing no signs of easing up in the coming days, with many regions facing an extended dry spell. Some areas are approaching nearly a month without any notable rainfall, intensifying concerns over drought conditions. In particular, large parts of England have received virtually none of the rain they would typically expect throughout July. For instance, Wisley in Surrey has endured 26 straight days without measurable precipitation, while rainfall levels in Wales and Northern Ireland remain significantly below their usual averages.
The impact of this prolonged dry weather is already being felt in several ways. Over eight million households in England are currently subject to hosepipe bans. Meanwhile, with vegetation drying out, the risk of wildfires persists and has already materialized in places such as Greater Manchester and Conwy. Weather forecasts indicate that high pressure systems will dominate the UK’s atmosphere for at least the next week, driving temperatures as high as 33°C in parts of southern England and leaving rainfall scarce across the country.
This summer has brought a host of temperature records to the UK, signalling an exceptionally hot season so far. Highlights include a new UK June record temperature of 37.7°C at Lingwood in Norfolk, surpassing the 1976 record of 35.6°C. Additionally, there have been six days this summer with temperatures reaching 35°C or higher, topping the previous record of five such days set in 1976. Moreover, the UK has recorded nine days of 34°C or above, exceeding the former record of eight days from the same year. Notably, this year marks the first time 35°C or above has been recorded during three separate calendar months—May, June, and July.
The absence of rain this summer is just as striking as the soaring temperatures, with numerous locations going weeks without any significant moisture. Besides Wisley’s 26-day dry streak, Herstmonceux in East Sussex has seen no rainfall for 24 days, while other measurement sites such as Cardington, Wittering, Odiham, and Heathrow have all recorded 20 days without rain. Normally, Wisley would expect around 49.3mm of rainfall in July, and Odiham about 50.8mm. Regional variations reveal some relief in north-west Scotland, where areas like Aultbea have already received close to 95% of their typical July rainfall, contrasting sharply with most of Wales and Northern Ireland, where precipitation has been below 20% of average.
Looking ahead, the forecast remains dominated by high pressure, maintaining largely dry conditions across the UK. Sporadic showers or thunderstorms might occur in southern England and the Channel Islands, but even these may not uniformly spread rain across all areas. Some weather models predict this pattern could persist well into next week or beyond, suggesting little break from the ongoing heat and dryness. Natural England has issued warnings about a “very high” to “exceptional” risk of wildfires in large parts of England and Wales, a concern echoed by the current active fires in Derbyshire, Greater Manchester, and Conwy. While dry conditions alone don’t ignite fires, the lack of moisture in vegetation creates favorable fuel for fires once sparks from sources like barbecues or discarded cigarettes occur.
Temperatures are expected to climb again after a cooler start to the week, reaching 32 to 33°C in southern England by midweek. Other parts of the UK, including Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, should experience highs in the mid to high twenties Celsius. The lasting heatwave could extend for several more days, with some locations possibly seeing a two-week duration of heatwave conditions. By the weekend, northerly winds may bring slightly cooler temperatures, though they are still expected to remain above average for this time of year, and heatwave criteria might continue to be satisfied in southern areas
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