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On 13 August 2026, UK broadcasters reported that the country was experiencing its hottest day of the year, with a provisional temperature of 38.1 degrees Celsius recorded at Kew Gardens in southwest London, making it the fifth hottest temperature ever recorded in the UK. An amber extreme heat warning was in place for parts of England until the end of the day, and amber heat health alerts covered all of England until the following evening. The heat contributed to numerous wildfires, including major incidents in Stourbridge, Norfolk, and South Wales, and placed additional pressure on emergency services and hospitals. Water shortages and drought conditions were also reported, with some areas experiencing prolonged dry spells. The coverage included discussion of the heatwave being the fifth of the summer, comparisons to past heatwaves such as 1976, and the role of climate change in making such extremes more likely. Some channels also reported on the impact on wildlife, care homes, and the potential for thunderstorms as the heat begins to ease.
Key Claims by Channel
Friday 3 July 2026
| Claim |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reported by a few · 2 channels | |||
| France reported approximately 2,000 more deaths than expected during the heatwave. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC One | |
| New York experienced its hottest day in over a decade. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC One | |
| 160 million people across 30 US states were under heat alert. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC One | |
| Only on one channel | |||
| Temperatures in the UK are expected to reach the 30s Celsius from Sunday. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One |
| England experienced its warmest June since records began. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One |
| Air conditioning inquiries increased by 1100% over the past month. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One |
| Some air conditioning companies are prioritising installations over repairs due to high demand. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One |
| A hosepipe ban was announced for approximately 850,000 customers of Southeast Water in Kent. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One |
| Southern Water will impose a hosepipe ban from the following Friday (9 July 2026). | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One |
| France saw a nearly 30% surge in deaths in the last week of June compared to the previous week. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One |
| Belgium recorded 39% more deaths than normal during the hot spell. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One |
| Portugal declared a state of alert across the entire mainland due to wildfire risks at their highest in 25 years. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One |
| Wildfires in southern France led to the evacuation of 1,500 people from campsites. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One |
| An extreme heat warning covered parts of the US East Coast with temperatures forecast to reach 46°C in some areas. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One |
| Independence Day celebrations in Washington were pushed later in the day due to heat, and cooling centres were opened. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One |
| Europe is heating up twice as fast as the global average. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One |
Tuesday 7 July 2026
| Claim | |  |
|---|---|---|
| Reported by all 2 channels | ||
| The UK is experiencing its third heatwave of the summer. | Reported by ITV | |
| An amber heat health alert was issued for parts of England. | ||
| Temperatures are expected to be above 30 degrees Celsius. | Reported by Channel 5 | Reported by ITV |
| Only on one channel | ||
| The UK Health Security Agency warned of a greater risk to life for vulnerable people, including older adults and those with pre-existing conditions. | Not reported by Channel 5 | |
| Lifeguards have arrived on two Somerset beaches for the holiday season. | Not reported by Channel 5 | |
Wednesday 8 July 2026
| Claim | | | |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Widely reported · 4 or more of 5 channels | |||||
| An amber heat health alert was issued for parts of England. | Reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by ITV | |
| This is the third heatwave of the year in the UK, and it could be one of the longest-lasting since 1976. | Reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by ITV |
| Reported by a few · 2–3 channels | |||||
| Temperatures could reach 36 degrees Celsius in parts of southern England, with tropical nights where temperatures remain above 20 degrees Celsius. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | |
| The heat poses a serious risk to health and life, especially for vulnerable people. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV |
| A marine heatwave has been present in UK waters for 18 months, is expected to reach extreme levels with anomalies of 4 to 5 degrees Celsius, and is occurring later in the year. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by ITV | ||
| Warmer seas have led to a bloom of octopus, affecting local fisheries, with Brixham Market selling 103 tonnes in a single day. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by ITV | ||
| Only on one channel | |||||
| Lifeguards have arrived on two Somerset beaches for the holiday season. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by ITV |
| Some trains were cancelled or running at reduced speeds due to the heat. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV |
| Marine heatwaves could breach species' thermal limits and have decimated seagrass meadows in other oceans. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV |
| In southern Europe, wildfires were reported in Spain and Italy due to extreme temperatures. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV |
Thursday 9 July 2026
| Claim | | | | | |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Widely reported · 5 or more of 6 channels | ||||||
| A marine heatwave has been present in UK waters for 18 months, is expected to reach extreme levels with anomalies of 4 to 5 degrees Celsius, and is occurring later in the year. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Reported by Channel 4 | Reported by Sky News | |
| Reported by a few · 2–4 channels | ||||||
| An amber heat health alert was issued for parts of England. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News | |
| Temperatures could reach 36 degrees Celsius in parts of southern England, with tropical nights where temperatures remain above 20 degrees Celsius. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | ||
| Warmer seas have led to a bloom of octopus, affecting local fisheries, with Brixham Market selling 103 tonnes in a single day. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The heatwave is prolonged, lasting several days, with temperatures expected to peak on Thursday or Friday. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| Coastal areas may experience cooling sea breezes, and eastern parts may see slightly lower temperatures on Friday due to northeasterly winds. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| The UK has recorded its eighth day this year with temperatures above 34°C, a new record. | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Only on one channel | ||||||
| This is the third heatwave of the year in the UK, and it could be one of the longest-lasting since 1976. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| This is the third heatwave of the year. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| The heat is spreading further north, affecting Scotland and Northern Ireland. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| High pressure is dominating the weather, with a weather front bringing cloud and cooler conditions to northwest Scotland, where temperatures may reach only 16°C. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| A red energy supplies warning (or special notice) has been issued, calling for increased energy production ahead of peak usage. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | |
| The London Fire Brigade recorded its busiest 24-hour period since the start of the year due to increased wildfire risk. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | |
| The heat health alerts indicate extra strain on health services and power demand. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Significant impacts on health and social care services are expected, including a rise in deaths among those aged 65 and over. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The heatwave led to a record number of 999 calls, with 4,000 incidents in one day during the previous heatwave. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Up to three million homes are classed as overheating in hot weather. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Women experience heatwaves worse than men due to physiological differences. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The heatwave is made more likely by human-induced climate change. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Birdland in Bourton-on-the-Water provided ice for king penguins to keep them cool. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Temperatures reached 30°C in Cirencester. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
Friday 10 July 2026
| Claim | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Widely reported · 5 or more of 6 channels | ||||||
| An amber heat health alert was issued for parts of England. | Reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by ITV | |
| Reported by a few · 2–4 channels | ||||||
| The UK is experiencing its third heatwave of the summer. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| Temperatures could reach 36 degrees Celsius in parts of southern England, with tropical nights where temperatures remain above 20 degrees Celsius. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| A marine heatwave has been present in UK waters for 18 months, is expected to reach extreme levels with anomalies of 4 to 5 degrees Celsius, and is occurring later in the year. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Warmer seas have led to a bloom of octopus, affecting local fisheries, with Brixham Market selling 103 tonnes in a single day. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Last month was the hottest June ever recorded in waters around western Europe. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by Sky News | |
| Up to three million homes are classed as overheating in hot weather. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The UK has recorded its eighth day this year with temperatures above 34°C, a new record. | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News | |
| Anglian Water introduced a hosepipe ban affecting around five million customers. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | ||
| MPs said 90% of UK housing could be at risk of overheating by 2050. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Only on one channel | ||||||
| Lifeguards have arrived on two Somerset beaches for the holiday season. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Marine heatwaves could breach species' thermal limits and have decimated seagrass meadows in other oceans. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Yellow heat health alerts were in force across northern England. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Drought conditions were being monitored in East Anglia, Devon, and Cornwall. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | |
| New build homes can reach internal temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius during heatwaves. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Residents on a new build estate in Hertfordshire reported water supply issues, with a daily water tank running out by evening. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Tower block residents in southeast London had cladding removed, making conditions more suffocating, and they could not open windows. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| A government spokesperson said it is taking action to improve how homes adapt to hotter temperatures and has strengthened protections for tenants. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| At least 12 people died in a wildfire in the southern Spanish province of Almeria, caused by a downed power line. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The NHS warned it is facing a summer onslaught because of the heat. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| The operator of Britain's electricity grid warned it needs more powers as people use fans and air conditioning. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
Saturday 11 July 2026
| Claim | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reported by a few · 2 channels | |||
| A heat wave is affecting several US states, with temperatures potentially reaching 43 degrees Celsius (110 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Northern Plains, as a heat dome spreads from Northwestern states through the Northern Plains, also affecting parts of the Southwest and Southeast. | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Only on one channel | |||
| Spain declared three days of mourning due to wildfires. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by Sky News |
| Officials warned that the death toll from the wildfires could still rise significantly. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by Sky News |
| UK temperatures are expected to exceed 30 degrees Celsius this weekend. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | |
| People in the UK are being asked not to use disposable barbecues to minimize fire risk. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by Sky News |
| This year is the first on record to see six separate days of temperatures over 35 degrees Celsius in the UK. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | |
| This year is the first to record 35 degrees Celsius or higher in three calendar months in the UK. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by Sky News |
| An 18-year-old man was found dead at Dovestone Reservoir in Greater Manchester. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | |
Monday 13 July 2026
| Claim | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reported by all 3 channels | |||
| Researchers estimated over 2,700 heat-related deaths in England and Wales during the May and June heatwaves, with 550 in May and 2,200 in June. | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Reported by ITV |
| Reported by a few · 2 channels | |||
| Vulnerable groups include the elderly, babies, and people with heart or lung conditions. | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by ITV |
| Only on one channel | |||
| A temperature of 37.7°C was recorded in Norfolk during the June heatwave. | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV |
| A temperature of 35.1°C was recorded at Kew Gardens in London during the May heatwave. | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV |
| Climate change added 3 to 4°C to maximum temperatures and was responsible for 42% of heat-related deaths. | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV |
| A major wildfire on Conwy Mountain in North Wales led to evacuation of dozens of homes, with firefighters using helicopters and drones to control it. | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV |
| The London Ambulance Service experienced its busiest ever week during the June heatwave. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by ITV |
| A rare red heat alert was issued for parts of the UK, warning of significant risks to life. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by ITV |
Tuesday 14 July 2026
| Claim | | |
|---|---|---|
| Reported by all 2 channels | ||
| The heatwave has lasted 9-11 days with temperatures exceeding 30°C. | Reported by Channel 5 | Reported by ITV |
| Only on one channel | ||
| Large parts of England recorded zero percent of expected July rainfall. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by ITV |
| A high-temperature warning is in place for most of Ireland. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by ITV |
| A yellow heat health alert is in place until 9pm on Friday 17 July. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by ITV |
| South Western Ambulance Service reported being very busy. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by ITV |
| A school in Glastonbury used a neighbouring church to stay cool, as the church remained around 27°C. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by ITV |
| A care home in Glastonbury reported its kitchen reached 40°C and its office 38°C. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by ITV |
Friday 17 July 2026
| Claim | | |
|---|---|---|
| Reported by all 2 channels | ||
| Parts of England experienced their longest dry spell in 30 years. | Reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC One |
| Temperatures reached 30 degrees Celsius for 13 consecutive days in parts of England. | Reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC One |
| The heatwave was expected to continue with no significant rain in the near term. | Reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC One |
| Only on one channel | ||
| Hosepipe bans were being introduced in some areas due to high water demand. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One |
| Reservoir levels were at 70-80% capacity, slightly below the seasonal average. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One |
| A major wildfire in the Cairngorm National Park in Scotland burned for three days, leading to evacuations. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC One |
| Wildfires in Spain were driven by dry winds and hot weather. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One |
| The UK's climate was changing, with southern England's climate shifting northwards, affecting ecosystems. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC One |
Thursday 30 July 2026
| Claim | | |
|---|---|---|
| Only on one channel | ||
| Seven regions in England are in official drought conditions. | Not reported by BBC One | |
| UK Health Security Agency issued an amber heat health alert for the East Midlands, East, South East and London. | Not reported by BBC One | |
| At least eight drowning deaths have occurred in the UK so far this month. | Not reported by BBC One | |
| The June heatwave included eight days of hot weather with a red health heat alert, and temperatures reached 38 degrees Celsius in some areas. | Not reported by ITV | |
| This was the fourth heatwave of the year. | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by ITV |
| Farmers stated that water investment, along with planning and license changes, is necessary for future survival. | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV |
| Preliminary data from UKHSA showed an estimated 2,750 to 2,900 excess deaths in England during the May and June heatwaves. | Not reported by ITV | |
| The heatwaves had the greatest impact on the very elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. | Not reported by ITV | |
Monday 3 August 2026
| Claim | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reported by a few · 2–3 channels | |||||
| UK Health Security Agency issued an amber heat health alert for the East Midlands, East, South East and London. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by ITV | ||
| Temperatures are forecast to reach 35 degrees Celsius in the southeast. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News | |
| July was the driest month on record for England and Wales. | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Sky News | |||
| Eleven hosepipe bans are in place across England and Wales. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by Sky News | ||
| Only on one channel | |||||
| Seven regions in England are in official drought conditions. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| At least eight drowning deaths have occurred in the UK so far this month. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Two firefighting helicopters collided midair in Greece while responding to wildfires; the crew of one was located safe, the other is still being searched for. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Hungary is shutting down its only nuclear plant because the Danube River is too low to cool it. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Farmers have had to harvest early due to drought conditions. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | |
| Italy placed nearly all major cities under the highest heat alert due to a fourth heatwave. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Sky News | |
| NFU president Tom Bradshaw warned of food shortages if drought continues. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | |
| Europe has heated at more than twice the global average since the 1980s. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| A rise in deaths among vulnerable people was warned. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Isolated thunderstorms are possible in southern England. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Emergency services are battling wildfires west of Athens in Greece. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| The Danube River reached its lowest levels in 30 years in several countries, including Hungary. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Temperatures in Italy could reach 38-40°C. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The UK as a whole had its third driest July on record, and Northern Ireland its eighth driest. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Crop yields are expected to be 10% to 50% below normal due to the drought. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| July was the sixth consecutive month with above-average temperatures. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The reservoir at Ardingly is at notably low levels, around 66%. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Sky News | |
Saturday 8 August 2026
| Claim | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Widely reported · 4 or more of 5 channels | |||||
| Parts of the UK are expected to experience another heatwave next week. | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by ITV | |
| Drought conditions are affecting half of England and all of Wales. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | ||
| 33 days this year exceeded 30 degrees. | Reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | |
| Reported by a few · 2–3 channels | |||||
| Yellow heat health alerts have been issued across the east of England, London, the south east and west, and the south and west Midlands. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | ||
| July was the sunniest month on record across the UK. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV |
| Only on one channel | |||||
| Thames Water customers will face hosepipe restrictions from Thursday. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | |
| The Rhine's water levels have dropped to their lowest point in 150 years. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | |
| There is a north-south split with Scotland and Northern Ireland seeing rain while southern England and Wales are warm. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by ITV |
| Several countries shut down nuclear reactors because of low water levels in the Danube. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by ITV |
| Many parts of England and Wales face a very high risk of wildfires. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | |
| The UK curbed electricity exports to Europe to preserve domestic supplies. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | |
| The National Drought Group was due to meet the following day. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV |
| Southern areas of the UK have not seen rain for almost two months. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | |
| The Environment Agency may move more areas into drought status. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV |
| The UK government may water down net zero targets on electric cars and clean energy. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | |
| Keir Starmer has not yet committed to specific climate policies, including on North Sea oil and gas. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | |
| Farmers are concerned about wildfires and crop yields. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV |
Sunday 9 August 2026
| Claim | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Widely reported · 4 or more of 5 channels | |||||
| Parts of the UK are expected to experience another heatwave next week. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by Channel 4 | |||
| Drought conditions are affecting half of England and all of Wales. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by Channel 4 | Reported by ITV | ||
| 33 days this year exceeded 30 degrees. | Not reported by Channel 4 | ||||
| Reported by a few · 2–3 channels | |||||
| Yellow heat health alerts have been issued across the east of England, London, the south east and west, and the south and west Midlands. | Reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | |
| July was the sunniest month on record across the UK. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | ||
| Southern areas of the UK have not seen rain for almost two months. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV |
| The Environment Agency may move more areas into drought status. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | ||
| Only on one channel | |||||
| Thames Water customers will face hosepipe restrictions from Thursday. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | |
| Many parts of England and Wales face a very high risk of wildfires. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV |
| The UK curbed electricity exports to Europe to preserve domestic supplies. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV |
| The UK has had at least four heatwaves each summer in recent years. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV |
| The National Drought Group was due to meet the following day. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | |
| Officials warned of an increased risk to life for vulnerable people and advised looking out for the elderly, frail, and those living alone. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV |
| Global warming is making heatwaves more frequent and intense. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | |
| Cereal yields are down by about a third and grass forage for winter is down by 50%. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | |
| The UK government may water down net zero targets on electric cars and clean energy. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV |
| A garden centre in Buckingham has run out of its own rainwater reservoir and is relying on mains water. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | |
| A 19-year-old man died after getting into difficulty swimming in the Lake District. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | |
| Keir Starmer has not yet committed to specific climate policies, including on North Sea oil and gas. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV |
| Farmers are concerned about wildfires and crop yields. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV |
| Europe has seen catastrophic wildfires. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV |
| A migrant boat carrying 230 people crossed the English Channel. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV |
| The government claims 47,000 potential crossings have been disrupted since the election two years ago. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV |
Tuesday 11 August 2026
| Claim | | | |  | |  | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reported by a few · 2–5 channels | ||||||||
| Parts of England experienced a two-week dry spell, the longest unbroken period without rain since the mid-1990s. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Thames Water customers will face hosepipe restrictions from Thursday. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Reported by Channel 4 | Reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| Seven regions in England are in official drought conditions. | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News | ||
| Yellow heat health alerts have been issued across the east of England, London, the south east and west, and the south and west Midlands. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News | |
| July was the driest month on record for England and Wales. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News | |
| Parts of the UK are expected to experience another heatwave next week. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| Drought conditions are affecting half of England and all of Wales. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by Sky News | ||
| 33 days this year exceeded 30 degrees. | Reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Southern areas of the UK have not seen rain for almost two months. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC Two | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by Sky News | ||
| A fire in the New Forest, started by a van, spread to protected heathland and led to the closure of the A31. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News | |
| The Met Office issued a rare amber extreme heat warning for Thursday, with temperatures up to 38°C. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by Sky News | ||
| The Prime Minister will chair his first emergency Cobra meeting on extreme heat. | Reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| Only on one channel | ||||||||
| Crop yields were about a third lower than normal, and a third loss of the wheat crop in southern England and Wales would mean a 350 million pound shortfall in agricultural income. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Wales became the first part of the UK to declare a drought after record low river levels. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| A farmer said the last dam built in the Elan Valley was in 1953 and more strategic water storage is needed. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| NFU president Tom Bradshaw warned of food shortages if drought continues. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Livestock farmers are using winter feed because of a lack of grass. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Many parts of England and Wales face a very high risk of wildfires. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The UK curbed electricity exports to Europe to preserve domestic supplies. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| July was the sunniest month on record across the UK. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The government said 10 new reservoirs are planned, with construction not starting until 2033 at the earliest. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The UK's drought was attributed to insufficient reservoir construction and leaky pipes, not solely to climate change. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Water levels in one in five rivers were exceptionally low. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The Health Security Agency warned of significant impacts on health and social care. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| There is potential for a Met Office heat warning on Thursday. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| The National Fire Chiefs Council warned that wildfires this year have already matched the total for 2021, 2023 and 2024 combined. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The London Ambulance Service has seen some of the busiest days in its history. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| A previously extinguished fire in the Rhondda Valley was reignited deliberately. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by Sky News | |
| A 24-year-old man died at Camber Sands. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Over 200 wildfires occurred on protected habitats this year. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The Prime Minister was considering a ban on disposable barbecues. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| The National Drought Group said large areas were close to drought. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| 27 million people were under water use restrictions. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
Wednesday 12 August 2026
| Claim | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Widely reported · 6 or more of 8 channels | ||||||||
| Drought conditions are affecting half of England and all of Wales. | Reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | ||
| The Met Office issued a rare amber extreme heat warning for Thursday, with temperatures up to 38°C. | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by GB News | Reported by Sky News | |||
| Reported by a few · 2–5 channels | ||||||||
| Parts of England experienced a two-week dry spell, the longest unbroken period without rain since the mid-1990s. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Thames Water customers will face hosepipe restrictions from Thursday. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Parts of the UK are expected to experience another heatwave next week. | Reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| 33 days this year exceeded 30 degrees. | Reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| July was the sunniest month on record across the UK. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The Prime Minister will chair his first emergency Cobra meeting on extreme heat. | Reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | ||
| The UK is on course for its warmest summer on record. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Only on one channel | ||||||||
| NFU president Tom Bradshaw warned of food shortages if drought continues. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| July was the driest month on record for England and Wales. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The UK curbed electricity exports to Europe to preserve domestic supplies. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| A 19-year-old man died after getting into difficulty swimming in the Lake District. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| A fire in the New Forest, started by a van, spread to protected heathland and led to the closure of the A31. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The UK's drought was attributed to insufficient reservoir construction and leaky pipes, not solely to climate change. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The Fire Brigades Union demands 5,000 more firefighters. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | |
| Some southern and southeastern areas of the UK had no rain for seven consecutive weeks. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| Opposition parties accused the Prime Minister of being missing in action on the issue of extreme heat and drought. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| The Fire Brigades Union said the UK faces a national emergency in fighting fires. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The Prime Minister was considering a ban on disposable barbecues. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The National Drought Group said large areas were close to drought. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| 27 million people were under water use restrictions. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Government extended ban on disposable barbecue sales and urged retailers not to sell them. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Daily Mail attributed record wildfires partly to rewilding. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Nurses warned about collapsing during shifts due to extreme heat, with their union describing conditions as inhumane. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The world's oceans hit their hottest ever recorded temperature for July. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Temperatures could reach 36 to 38°C, with a chance of breaking the August record of 38.5°C. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| Wales had its hottest August day on record, at 35.3°C. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| The UK could reach 38°C, which would be the hottest day of the year. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
Thursday 13 August 2026
| Claim | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Widely reported · 6 or more of 8 channels | ||||||||
| The Met Office issued a rare amber extreme heat warning for Thursday, with temperatures up to 38°C. | Reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News | |
| Reported by a few · 2–5 channels | ||||||||
| Yellow heat health alerts have been issued across the east of England, London, the south east and west, and the south and west Midlands. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Parts of the UK are expected to experience another heatwave next week. | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News | ||
| Drought conditions are affecting half of England and all of Wales. | Reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | ||
| 33 days this year exceeded 30 degrees. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| July was the sunniest month on record across the UK. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The Prime Minister will chair his first emergency Cobra meeting on extreme heat. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The UK set or equalled the record for days above 30°C, with 34 or 35 days. | Reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Temperatures could reach 36 to 38°C, with a chance of breaking the August record of 38.5°C. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | |
| The UK recorded its hottest day of the year on 13 August 2026, with a provisional peak of 38.1 degrees Celsius at Kew Gardens, the fifth hottest temperature ever recorded. | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |||||
| Heat health alerts were in place for the whole of England until 9pm the following day. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Temperatures were expected to drop in the coming days, with possible thundery downpours, but little meaningful rainfall for drought-affected areas. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| The heat put added pressure on emergency services, including a major fire in Stourbridge, a major incident declared in Norfolk, and 20 homes destroyed in Newbridge, South Wales. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| England's A&E departments were experiencing their busiest period ever, with 2.49 million attendances in July alone. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News | ||
| Water supply was slowly being restored to 10,000 homes in Ilford, East London, after five days of dry pipes. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Drought conditions exposed the ruins of a village at Rutland Water, and Wisley Common in Surrey had 56-57 days without rain. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| Swiss glaciers lost an average of two meters of ice this summer, equivalent to around 600,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools, and permafrost thawing is causing rock and ice falls. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | ||
| A major fire in Stourbridge, West Midlands, involved a large number of firefighters (reports ranged from 60 to 100). | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| A major incident was declared by Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| 20 homes were destroyed by a fire in Newbridge, South Wales. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The Royal College of Nursing warned that hospitals and care homes were so hot that some nursing staff had collapsed while on shift. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Drought conditions exposed the ruins of a village at Rutland Water. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Wisley in Surrey had gone 56 to 57 days without rain. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| Only on one channel | ||||||||
| Temperatures are forecast to surpass 30 degrees Celsius, potentially reaching 36 in eastern and southeastern England. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| A 19-year-old man died after getting into difficulty swimming in the Lake District. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| A fire in the New Forest, started by a van, spread to protected heathland and led to the closure of the A31. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| A 24-year-old man died at Camber Sands. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| A new hosepipe ban came into force for south-west water customers, affecting 1.8 million people. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Water supplies were under pressure with restrictions in place and farmers warning of a shortage of certain foods. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The world's oceans hit their hottest ever recorded temperature for July. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The UK is on course for its warmest summer on record. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | |
| More than 1,000 wildfires were recorded in England and Wales this year. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The Prime Minister called on retailers not to sell disposable barbecues due to fire risk. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| 23 million people, about 40% of the population, were living with a hosepipe ban. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Wales had its hottest August day on record, at 35.3°C. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | |
| Compared to the 1976 heatwave, which was an outlier, the current heat is part of a trend of rising baseline temperatures. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Water bills are going up to help improve reservoir capacity and infrastructure. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| There have been six days in UK history with temperatures over 38C, all since 2000, including two this year and five in the past seven years. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Broadcasters reported that 45 million people in England currently live in a drought area. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Broadcasters reported that excess heat-related deaths are significantly higher than last year. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Support for net zero was reported at 45% while concern about climate change was reported at 68%. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The last reservoir in the UK was built in 1992. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The government faced criticism for only discussing banning disposable barbecues. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Temperatures of 35C or above were recorded for four consecutive months, a first. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by GB News | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Residents in the West Midlands were urged to stay indoors due to two major fires. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by BBC Two | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
This is a cross-channel consensus summary, not an objective account. Consensus can be uniformly wrong, or omit what only one channel covered.
Flagged quotes
Disputed or loaded quotes across this topic's coverage, newest first.
Verbatim quotes flagged as contested or rhetorically charged. Presence here reflects language used, not a judgement of accuracy.
- contested
… years, all of them since the turn of the millennium. This is not an aberration. It is a trend, an alarming one worsened by what we ourselves do and what we put in the atmosphere. Tonight there are fires alight across the country with major …
- charged
… record again being broken today. Is this the new normal? There's nothing normal about this type of heat, to be honest, Simon. It's extraordinary. Average temperatures around this time of year, Birmingham, London, 22, …
- charged
… higher. And at this type of level of hot weather, people suffer, people die. The environment also is damaged. So, yes, this is …
- charged
… moment for leadership and actually what we got was a monumental dereliction of duty. As wildfires continue to rage across the country,
- charged
… Johal has the very latest on the fires in Stourbridge. The images are horrifying. West Midlands Fire Service says there are multiple houses on …
- charged
… fire service says this blaze has several points of origin. Residents in the area have been left terrified for their homes. I was out with a hosepipe trying to damp the …
Timeline
Where this topic appeared. Cells show coverage time and are darker when there was more coverage.
| Date | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC One | BBC Two | Channel 4 | GB News | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 1 September 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2m 50s 3.3% | — |
| Wednesday 26 August 2026 | 16s 0.8% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sunday 16 August 2026 | — | — | — | — | 6m 10s 29.3% | — | — | — |
| Friday 14 August 2026 | 19s 20.0% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Thursday 13 August 2026 | 3m 17s 10.9% | 6m 58s 14.5% | 13m 19s 28.2% | — | 14m 5s 29.2% | — | — | 3m 34s 14.6% |
| Wednesday 12 August 2026 | 1m 50s 4.7% | — | 8m 34s 9.9% | — | 5m 52s 11.9% | 12m 13.2% | 11m 1s 13.2% | 15m 54s 41.3% |
| Tuesday 11 August 2026 | 11m 14s 33.6% | — | 8m 8.9% | — | 2m 29s 4.6% | — | 14m 2s 12.5% | 2m 55s 6.2% |
| Monday 10 August 2026 | 5m 15s 14.2% | 1m 42s 2.4% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sunday 9 August 2026 | 41s 31.8% | 4m 5.6% | 10m 26s 11.7% | — | — | — | 5m 51s 30.2% | — |
| Saturday 8 August 2026 | 15s 12.1% | — | — | — | — | — | 7m 36s 36.5% | — |
| Thursday 6 August 2026 | — | — | 53s 1.0% | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wednesday 5 August 2026 | — | 10m 40s 23.0% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Monday 3 August 2026 | 5m 48s 15.3% | 1m 35s 1.7% | 9m 17s 9.3% | — | — | — | 2m 57s 6.2% | 1m 51s 2.9% |
| Sunday 2 August 2026 | — | 4m 36s 4.5% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Friday 31 July 2026 | — | — | 17m 49s 17.0% | — | — | — | — | — |
| Thursday 30 July 2026 | — | — | 1m 27s 2.3% | — | — | — | 2m 42s 18.7% | — |
| Wednesday 29 July 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 37s 4.1% | — |
| Friday 17 July 2026 | 4m 32s 11.8% | — | 2m 14s 2.2% | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wednesday 15 July 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5m 28s 8.0% | — |
| Tuesday 14 July 2026 | 21s 0.8% | — | — | — | — | — | 3m 7s 7.7% | — |
| Monday 13 July 2026 | 2m 32s 6.6% | 7m 56s 17.7% | 8m 8.6% | — | — | — | 2m 1s 2.8% | — |
| Saturday 11 July 2026 | — | 4m 43s 6.4% | — | — | — | — | — | 1m 3s 1.4% |
| Friday 10 July 2026 | 14s 0.4% | 6m 45s 14.7% | — | — | — | — | — | 2m 53s 6.1% |
| Thursday 9 July 2026 | 3m 30s 9.1% | 1m 20s 2.7% | 21m 13s 21.5% | — | — | — | 3m 49s 12.2% | 10m 11s 19.2% |
| Wednesday 8 July 2026 | 2m 24s 6.9% | 2m 19s 4.8% | 9m 32s 10.2% | — | — | — | 6m 35s 12.6% | — |
| Tuesday 7 July 2026 | 15s 0.6% | — | — | — | — | — | 24s 1.8% | — |
| Sunday 5 July 2026 | 18s 14.1% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Saturday 4 July 2026 | — | 2m 52s 5.9% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Friday 3 July 2026 | 2m 57s 8.1% | 7m 46s 17.5% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wednesday 1 July 2026 | 3m 58s 10.8% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |