UK set for hottest summer on record with amber heat warning
The Met Office has issued an amber heat warning as the UK is on track for its hottest summer on record, with continued heat and drought conditions expected.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The UK is on course to have its hottest summer on record, according to the Met Office, with only average conditions needed for the rest of August to surpass the record set last year. The latest in a series of heatwaves is expected to peak on Thursday, when temperatures could reach 38 degrees Celsius in parts of central and eastern England, prompting a rare amber warning for extreme heat.
The number of days above 30 degrees has already reached 35, breaking the previous record of 34 set in 1995. July was the sunniest and one of the driest on record, leaving almost three-quarters of England and all of Wales in drought. Millions of people are living under hosepipe bans, and water companies are struggling to maintain supplies.
Wildfires have been widespread, with more than 1,000 recorded in England and Wales so far this year, as many as in the whole of last year. Large fires have burned in the New Forest, in Cambridgeshire, and near Ebbw Vale in South Wales, stretching fire services to their limits.
Health warnings are in force, with amber heat health alerts covering most of England. The UK Health Security Agency says significant impacts are likely across health and social care, including a rise in deaths. The London Ambulance Service has reported some of its busiest days on record.
Farmers are reporting severe losses, with cereal yields down by about a third and grass forage for livestock down by half. Some crops are dying in the fields rather than ripening, and there are warnings of food shortages and higher prices. Gardeners and businesses are also feeling the strain, with watering cans in high demand and reservoirs running low.
The Prime Minister has chaired an emergency Cobra meeting to discuss the response to the extreme heat. He urged people not to use disposable barbecues because of the risk of starting fires. Officials are also considering making it easier for farmers to abstract water.
Scientists say climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and more intense. Europe has also been hit by record temperatures and wildfires, with France, Spain, and other countries battling blazes. The hottest summer on record in the UK is part of a wider pattern that experts say will continue as long as fossil fuel emissions continue.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One | Channel 4 | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Met Office issued a rare amber extreme heat warning for Thursday, with temperatures up to 38°C. | ||||||
| A fire in the New Forest, started by a van, spread to protected heathland and led to the closure of the A31. | · | |||||
| A yellow heat health alert is active in several English regions until Tuesday evening. | · | |||||
| Drought conditions are affecting half of England and all of Wales. | · | |||||
| Parts of the UK were forecast to experience a fifth heatwave of the summer next week. | · | |||||
| 33 days this year exceeded 30 degrees. | · | · | ||||
| July was the sunniest month on record across the UK. | · | · | ||||
| Southern areas of the UK have not seen rain for almost two months. | · | · | ||||
| The UK set or equalled the record for days above 30°C, with 34 or 35 days. | · | · | ||||
| Temperatures could reach 36 to 38°C, with a chance of breaking the August record of 38.5°C. | · | · | · | |||
| The Prime Minister will chair his first emergency Cobra meeting on extreme heat. | · | · | · | |||
| The Environment Agency may move more areas into drought status. | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Channel 4 used the heatwave as a springboard for a critical look at political inaction on climate change. It foregrounded the opinions of activists and advisers, and framed the extreme weather as evidence of a policy failure. The coverage balanced the immediate facts with a broader critique of the government's reluctance to move away from fossil fuels.
- “So why hasn't there been a greater sense of urgency amongst political leaders as wildfires rage and temperatures rise?”
- “I think it would be a real betrayal, to be completely honest.”
- “This is not our normal weather. It's increasingly extreme because of climate change.”
Channel 5 delivered a fast-paced news roundup, highlighting the record number of hot days, the growing health alerts, and the practical consequences for the public. It gave prominence to the death of a young man at Camber Sands and to the impact on farmers, while also noting that some wine growers were benefiting from the sunshine. The tone was informative and concerned.
- “The UK has broken a 30 year record for the number of days reaching 30 degrees Celsius.”
- “This devastating fire spread quickly last night across tinder-dry heathland in the New Forest National Park.”
- “So never a sit back and relax moment? No, it absolutely isn't.”
ITV News focused on the economic and agricultural damage caused by the relentless heat, with detailed reports from farmers and businesses. It stressed that the record for days above 30 degrees had been equalled and was likely to be broken, and it highlighted the growing burden of hosepipe bans on 23 million people. The coverage gave a strong voice to those whose livelihoods are at risk.
- “It's a matter of when not if it'll be broken”
- “Cereal yields are down by about a third and our grass forage for the winter next year is down by about 50%”
- “The Met Office has issued a rare amber warning for extreme heat on Thursday.”
BBC News provided authoritative national coverage, leading with the official confirmation of a new record for days above 30 degrees and the escalating health alerts. It gave extensive detail on the drought, wildfires, and the NHS pressure, with the climate editor setting the story in the context of global warming. The tone was measured and factual.
- “The UK has now officially broken the record for the most days above 30 degrees in a year, beating the previous record set in 1995.”
- “It is unprecedented to see such a series of heat waves in one summer”
- “Scientists say global warming is making heat waves more frequent and more intense.”
BBC One West gave a regional perspective, showing how the heatwave was affecting communities across the West of England. It used vivid imagery of parched fields and burning hillsides, and included contributions from local people and a weather presenter. The focus was on the local impact of national records and warnings.
- “Our green and pleasant land is turning brown, fields scorched by relentless heat and barely any rain.”
- “It's one of the worst summers I can remember.”
- “We have been breaking records, not only for heat, but also the longevity of the heat waves and also how dry it's been”
Sky News concentrated on the immediate weather outlook, with the meteorologist explaining the likelihood of reaching 38 degrees and potentially breaking the August record. It also stressed the absence of meaningful rainfall, with some parts of the southeast having had no rain for nearly two months. The tone was practical and focused on what the public needed to know.
- “Today is set to be the peak of this current hot spell of weather, so we're expecting, as you mentioned, could hit 38.”
- “We are talking about this summer being the hottest ever recorded in the UK.”
- “It doesn't look as though we'll see an end to the dry or settled weather until possibly October.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.