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A cold front is set to bring cooler weather and some rainfall to parts of the UK from Thursday through the weekend. However, despite this shift, the driest regions, including more than half of England and sections of Wales currently experiencing drought, are unlikely to benefit from precipitation in the coming days.
The recent heatwave reached its peak on Wednesday, with temperatures hitting 35.2°C at Writtle in Essex. This was the highest temperature recorded in over two weeks, matching the 35.2°C observed on 10 July in Cotton in the Elms, Derbyshire. While these temperatures are notable, they did not surpass the record-breaking high of 38°C set last month at Lingwood in Norfolk on 26 June, which remains the hottest day of the year so far. The Met Office confirmed this figure after revising the initially reported 37.7°C following a verification process.
Drought conditions were officially declared for more than half of England on Wednesday, reflecting the strain that the persistent hot and dry weather has placed on water resources. The Environment Agency’s announcement covers extensive areas in central, eastern, and southern England and signals the possibility of more stringent water use restrictions ahead. Current impacts include lowered river flows, early crop harvests, a heightened risk of wildfires, and existing hosepipe bans affecting over 20 million people. Meanwhile, drought has also been recognized in North Wales and the Upper Severn river basin by Natural Resources Wales.
In Scotland, where drought is not formally declared, some eastern regions are experiencing “significant scarcity,” the most severe level of water shortage, according to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Northern Ireland, however, is not facing drought conditions at this time. As for the upcoming weather, the north-west of the UK, which has already received considerable rainfall this month (with the Highlands’ Aultbea having around one-third more rain than usual for July), is expected to experience the wettest conditions again. Although some forecast models suggest potential rainfall in southern regions, this remains uncertain. Additionally, the summer season so far has seen temperatures reach or exceed 34°C on ten occasions, surpassing the previous records set in 1976 and equalled in 2020, with 31 days above 30°C recorded as well—close to the 1995 record of 34 days. There remains ample opportunity for these records to be challenged further as the season progresses
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