Andy Burnham has said he will consider imposing a ban on disposable barbecues amid the risk of further wildfires as extreme heat continues to grip parts of the UK.
The prime minister will chair an emergency Cobra committee later on Wednesday in response to a prolonged spell of exceptionally hot and dry weather.
On a visit to Stevenage earlier, he said single-use grills could be banned to help prevent fires.
”There is obviously a significant problem of wildfires in the south. The New Forest fire is a great concern; we have seen them in northern areas as well as Suffolk recently.”
He added: “This is a message for the public as well, because the wildfires I mentioned, many of them have been created by disposable barbecues.”
It comes as temperatures are forecast to reach 33C today and up to 38C tomorrow.
On Tuesday a firefighter union chief warned the country faces a “national emergency” amid ongoing wildfires, while Southern Water is pushing for a rare drought order which would ban the filling of non-domestic swimming pools.
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Key Points
- Burnham to consider disposable BBQ ban amid heatwave and wildfire risk
- PM to chair emergency Cobra meeting today as temperatures head for 38C
- Summer 2026 on course to be UK's hottest on record, says Met Office
- All of England under amber heat health alert
- July busiest month on record for wildfires
Editorial: Forget the credit crunch, we are now in the climate crunch
14:20 , Maryam Zakir-HussainWe are now heading into the fifth heatwave of the summer. As the weathermen said in the old tabloid cliché, there’s more to come, namely a sustained crisis of food production and supply, aided and abetted by the spread of fires across Britain’s wild places.
The prospect is that we will have more of the same next year and the year after. Despite all the public policy blather about resilience, neither the government nor we seem to have much clue what to do. The prime minister’s scheduled Cobra meeting on extreme heat amid warnings of a wildfire “national emergency” shows how serious a nadir we have reached.
The new chair of the National Farmers Union, Tom Bradshaw, told the BBC this week that “we expect global temperatures to rise two degrees above the preindustrial level by 2050”.
Forget the credit crunch, we are now in the climate crunch
Temperatures to rise to 37C tomorrow
14:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainTemperatures will rise quickly tomorrow, with many areas reaching 35°C+ and highs of 36-37°C possible, especially across the Midlands, east and southeast, the Met Office said.
An Amber Extreme Heat Warning is in force, with the heat potentially causing impacts to health, transport and infrastructure.
Temperatures will rise quickly tomorrow, with many areas reaching 35°C+ and highs of 36-37°C possible, especially across the Midlands, east and southeast
— Met Office (@metoffice) August 12, 2026
An Amber Extreme Heat Warning is in force, with the heat potentially causing impacts to health, transport and infrastructure pic.twitter.com/tS4Tc4eWra
Southern Water applies for rare drought order
13:45 , Maryam Zakir-HussainSouthern Water has applied for a rare drought order which would ban businesses from non-essential water use, including cleaning cars and filling non-domestic swimming pools, saying an “exceptional” lack of rain has threatened supplies in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
It warned that 165,000 people in the Southampton West supply area could face restricted supplies.
Environment Secretary Angela Eagle will decide on the application, which would be the first such ban since May 2006.
The Environment Agency said 71.3 per cent of England is now experiencing “flash drought”, as a dry start to August followed the country’s driest July on record.
A hot Wednesday afternoon on the cards
13:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainTemperatures are climbing as parts of the southwest have already reached the 30C mark, the Met Office said.
Temperatures have already reached almost 30°C in parts of the southwest, and it's continuing to heat up in the sunshine ☀️ pic.twitter.com/GfaKveV1Fe
— Met Office (@metoffice) August 12, 2026
70% of people in Wales suffer heatwave anxiety as hot weather puts pressure on household budgets, new data Reveals
13:15 , Maryam Zakir-HussainHeatwaves are no longer just a temporary discomfort; they are a major source of concern for the majority of the Welsh population.
A staggering 70 per cent of people in Wales say they feel anxious about the prospect of more frequent or severe heatwaves in the UK.
Breaking this down, 19 per cent report feeling very anxious, while 51 per cent feel somewhat anxious about upcoming weather shifts.
The emotional worry is compounded by sudden, unexpected expenses. During the recent June heatwave, 56 per cent of Welsh households reported additional spending as a direct result of the weather, leaving only 38 per cent who spent nothing extra.
MyVoucherCodes shopping and lifestyle expert, Sarah-Jane Outten, said:"Extreme weather events like heatwaves and the increasing frequency of wildfires are no longer distant news stories; they are triggering genuine climate anxiety for millions across the country. And, understandably, financial anxiety is growing for families too.
“The summer holidays are already an expensive time. Families are spending money on day trips, food and school uniforms for September without having to find additional funds for heatwave provisions such as paddling pools, refreshments and fans.”
Wildfire warning in place for Eastern Highlands, Eastern and Southern Scotland
12:55 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and the Scottish Wildfire Forum (SWF), have issued a warning for a very high risk of wildfire across Eastern Highlands, Eastern and Southern Scotland for today and tomorrow.
SFRS’ Head of Operational Delivery and SWF Chair, Deputy Assistant Chief Officer Kenny Barbour, said: “It’s extremely important members of the public exercise extreme caution and think twice before using anything involving a naked flame during a wildfire warning.
“These fires place a huge drain on our resources and pose a threat to the safety of our firefighters and members of our communities.
“Wildfires are a growing problem in Scotland. They have a huge impact on the environment, wildlife and the economy, but also have the potential to affect infrastructure and property.
“This warning comes as firefighters continue to work in the Cairngorms, four weeks after the wildfire first started. Crews are dampening down hotspots within the area.
“Human behaviour can significantly lower the chances of a wildfire starting, so it is crucial that people act safely and responsibly in rural environments and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.”
Mapped: Where drought has been declared in the UK as another heatwave looms
12:50 , Maryam Zakir-HussainSome 71.3 per cent of England has been plunged into drought after a record dry July and a very dry start to August, putting immense pressure on water resources for homes and the environment.
Officials from the National Drought Group said on Monday that there are now 45 million people living in drought conditions, with 27 million already under water-use restrictions.
Mapped: Where drought has been declared in the UK as another heatwave looms
Heatwaves to cost UK economy £4.4bn – but there’s worse yet to come
12:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainBack-to-back summer heatwaves have wiped £4.4bn from the UK economy so far this year, new research has found, with warnings further losses are likely as scorching temperatures become the new normal.
The losses come from reduced productivity alongside infrastructure and equipment failures in the heat, the report from think tank Verdant found.
Researchers added that the UK could lose a total of £25.6bn from summer heatwaves in the years to 2030 if temperatures continue to intensify at the same rate seen over the past decade.
Heatwaves to cost UK economy £4.4bn – but there’s worse yet to come
'Lives are at risk'- Greenpeace political campaigner
12:14 , Maryam Zakir-HussainAngharad Hopkinson, Greenpeace political campaigner, said: “This summer’s calamitous heat is putting lives at risk, threatening food and water supplies, and stretching emergency services to breaking point. There’s no doubt this is an emergency, and convening Cobra is a welcome admission of that reality.
“But let’s be clear, this is a fossil-fuelled crisis. Treating heatwaves as an emergency today while backing new oil and gas drilling tomorrow is no one’s definition of “pragmatic”. It’s playing firefighter and arsonist at the same time.
“If the new PM is serious about protecting the public, he must stop the fossil fuel industry from pouring more fuel on the fire. Approving projects like Jackdaw and Rosebank will only guarantee that Cobra meetings become a terrifying weekly routine at No.10.”
Expert responds to weight loss jabs affected by heatwave
11:45 , Maryam Zakir-HussainMandeep Kaur, pharmacist lead for the weight loss service at Boots Online Doctor, said: “Weight loss injections are sensitive to temperature. It’s important to store them as recommended, since exposure to temperatures outside the recommended range may affect the medicine’s quality and effectiveness.
“We’d always encourage patients to check their medication when it arrives and before administering them: look out for the solution appearing cloudy, discoloured or containing visible particles, or the packaging feeling warm to the touch on arrival. If in doubt, don’t use it and contact your provider.
“This is exactly why we’ve made the decision to temporarily pause deliveries during this summer’s heatwaves rather than risk sending out medication we couldn’t be confident had stayed within the recommended temperature range, which may impact its effectiveness and quality.
“Patient safety has to come first, even if that means a short-term inconvenience.
“It’s also worth knowing that not all weight loss injections have identical storage requirements – some brands allow a little more flexibility once they’re out of the fridge than some other brands.
“But the margin isn’t unlimited, and once the medication has been exposed to temperatures above 30C, it needs to be checked and replaced if it is not suitable for use, rather than relying on that flexibility to cover for a hot delivery.”
Fragile ‘Excalibur’ sword found in lake after water levels drop amid heatwave
11:35 , Maryam Zakir-HussainAn ‘Excalibur’-esque sword has been discovered poking out of a castle lake after scorching weather caused water levels to drop.
The blade, which was found by volunteers in the lake at Chiddingstone Castle, Kent, resembles the renowned magical sword featured in the legend of King Arthur.
Castle curator Naomi Collick said that it might be a Victorian bandsman's sword dating back to the early 1800s.
Fragile ‘Excalibur’ sword found in lake after water levels drop amid heatwave
Boots pauses home delivery of weight loss jabs during heatwave
11:24 , Maryam Zakir-HussainBoots is temporarily pausing home delivery of weight loss injections during the heatwave due to safety concerns, it has said.
The pharmacy chain said it had made the decision in order to keep the medication safe in transit amid temperatures set to exceed 30C across the country.
It followed new testing by the Boots Online Doctor service that found cold chain packaging could not reliably keep weight loss injections within their required temperature range once outdoor temperatures exceeded 30C.
It is advising patients to collect their medication from a local Boots store instead.
Weight loss injections such as Wegovy and Mounjaro must be kept below 8C to maintain their quality and effectiveness, but Boots said the gel-pack cold chain packaging used across the industry to transport medications that require refrigeration had never been tested above 30C – despite the increasing frequency of UK heatwaves.
The chain said it had already temporarily paused its home deliveries of the jabs on several occasions this summer as successive heatwaves hit the UK.
It said new packaging was expected to be introduced in the coming weeks, enabling the medication to be sent out at temperatures of up to 35C.
Watch: Summer 2026 on course to be UK’s hottest on record, Met Office says
11:20 , Maryam Zakir-HussainBurnham to consider disposable BBQ ban amid heatwave and wildfire risk
10:56 , Maryam Zakir-HussainAndy Burnham has said he will consider imposing a ban on disposable barbecues amid the risk of further wildfires as extreme heat continues to grip parts of the UK.
The Prime Minister will chair an emergency Cobra committee later on Wednesday in response to a prolonged spell of exceptionally hot and dry weather.
On a visit to Stevenage earlier, he said single-use grills could be banned to help prevent fires.“There is obviously a significant problem of wildfires in the south.
The New Forest fire is a great concern; we have seen them in northern areas as well as Suffolk recently.”He added: “This is a message for the public as well, because the wildfires I mentioned, many of them have been created by disposable barbecues.”
Mr Burnham continued: “I do believe we need to get the message out loud and clear. People should not be using those barbecues outside at this moment in time.
“I don’t know yet what the remedy is, but I do want to leave the meeting today with a loud and clear message that we do want people to take the greatest possible care when they are out in the countryside, both in terms of cigarettes, but also those temporary barbecues that we know are causing risk of fires.”
Met Office issues amber warning for extreme heat on Thursday
10:40 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe Met Office has issued an amber warning for extreme heat on Thursday from 9am to midnight across England.
“The highest temperatures will be in parts of the east, southeast and the Midlands, where 37 or even 38 Celsius could be reached,” the Met Office said.
⚠️⚠️ Amber weather warning issued ⚠️⚠️
— Met Office (@metoffice) August 11, 2026
Extreme heat across eastern parts of England
Thursday 0900 – 2359
Latest info 👉 https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs
Stay #WeatherAware ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/9AgYp9zLdq
Stay away from Dunwich Heath amid ongoing fire risk, warns National Trust
10:16 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe National Trust has warned people to stay away from Dunwich Heath until the area has been assessed following a devastating wildfire, amid a risk of further flare-ups.
More than 100 hectares of heathland habitat have been destroyed by fire at the Suffolk reserve since it took hold almost two weeks ago, the conservation charity said.
The fire service said on Monday that the fire has been stood down as a major incident but crews remain on scene damping down the affected area and monitoring for hotspots.
Coastal winds are stirring up ash and debris, rabbit burrows and warrens have retained significant heat and trees with burnt root systems are vulnerable to collapse, the National Trust said.Parts of the landscape have been left unrecognisable, making it harder to navigate, and fires spread along cliffs putting their stability at risk and making the beach below unsafe.
Russell Clement, general manager for the National Trust, praised all of Suffolk’s 35 fire stations, the 18 fire services from around the country and others who “worked tirelessly to tackle this fire”.
The National Trust said there are still parts of the fire ground that they have not yet been able to access to map and record hazards.
Grid operator issues warning amid solar eclipse and heatwave
09:53 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe National Energy System Operator (NESO) has issued an appeal for extra electricity supply or for energy users to power down this evening as temperatures crank up today, and amid a solar eclipse this evening.
Octopus Energy has also asked customers to power down during the eclipse from 6-8pm today, when the moon will block more than 90 per cent of sunlight.
This will, in turn, lower solar-powered electricity generation just as demand for energy surges as people finish up work and are at home for the evening.
Don’t use electricity during the solar eclipse, Octopus Energy warns
Remains of lost village uncovered as drought lowers reservoir levels in record-breaking heatwave
09:25 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe remains of a lost village demolished and flooded over 50 years ago have been resurfaced as England’s back-to-back heatwaves and dry weather continue to affect water levels.
Nether Hambleton, in the East Midlands, was submerged to create Rutland Water reservoir in the 1970s. It became Europe’s largest man-made lake at the time, with over 3,000 acres of land flooded.
Exceptionally low water levels in the reservoir have now revealed stonework and foundations of the lost buildings, around half a century after they were demolished.
The village was part of the wider parish of Hambleton, which now exists only as Upper Hambleton in the heart of the peninsula at the centre of the reservoir.
Remains of lost village uncovered as drought lowers reservoir levels in heatwave
Everything you can’t do in a heatwave as drought hits most of the UK
08:52 , Maryam Zakir-HussainAs the drought continues to pile pressure onto farming, freight shipping and energy production after the country saw its driest July in 190 years, here The Independent looks at everything this heatwave could stop you from doing:
Everything you can’t do in a heatwave as drought hits most of the UK
Head of Fire Brigades Union warns UK faces 'emergency'
08:32 , Maryam Zakir-HussainSteve Wright, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), warned the UK faces a national emergency “right now” with fires across the country.
Firefighters have responded to 966 wildfires across England and Wales this year, including 185 in the first 10 days of August alone, while July was the busiest month on record for wildfires with 458 incidents, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said.
Crews from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have battled a fire in the New Forest, which started after a van caught fire on the A31 near Ringwood on Sunday.
The area hit by the blaze is protected heathland and home to a number of rare species, according to the New Forest National Park Authority.
Mr Wright told Times Radio: “In many parts of the country, firefighters do not have the new modern equipment to deal with these.
“They do not have the new modern personal protective equipment, the lightweight fire kit that we wear, the right helmets, lightweight helmets, breathable uniforms to make sure they’re better protected, their health is protected when they’re out dealing with these incidents for hours and hours on end.”
Expert responds to Burnham's emergency Cobra meeting
08:23 , Maryam Zakir-HussainIn response to Andy Burnham chairing a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee following another heatwave, Robert Palmer – deputy director at Uplift – says new oil and gas drilling needs to stop.
“If his government is going to properly face up to the threat of climate change it must stop major new oil and gas drilling such as the Rosebank field.
“This decision is the first major climate test for the government. They are literally playing with people’s lives if they sanction more drilling which will wreck our planet and cause this dangerous heat.
“Climate Change is clearly devastating the UK, with nearly three-quarters of the country in drought, a fifth heatwave on the way in the south of England and severe health alerts. Heartbreakingly, this is after the sweltering heat has already killed thousands already this summer.
“It is also a horrific economic burden in terms of dealing with wildfires, ruined crops and fears that food bills are set to rocket.
“We need leaders that protect the public’s health, their need for lower bills and a safe climate ahead of oil company profits, and speed up the shift to clean energy to stop the heat once and for all.”
'We need to make sure our national infrastructure is able to cope', minister says ahead of emergency Cobra
08:15 , Holly EvansToday's Cobra meeting is aimed at ensuring the UK's "national resilience is one step ahead of the situation" and Britain's "national infrastructure is able to cope", a government minister has said.
Asked whether the Cobra meeting is coming too late, after a series of wildfires and drought across the country, immigration minister Anna Turley told Sky News: "No, we've kept the situation monitored closely throughout the summer, and I know that you know the cabinet have all been working closely on this.
"So it's been really important that we maintain our pressure on this."
She added: "But I think it's right that the prime minister, has called a Cobra today because we need to make sure all of our national infrastructure is able to cope...
"We've been supporting farmers. We've been ensuring the railways are working smoothly.
"But the priority, as I said, to make sure now that with Cobra, we really make sure that our national resilience is really one step ahead of the situation."
Temperatures more than 2C above average this summer
07:53 , Holly EvansProvisional statistics from the Met Office show that the mean temperature for the summer so far, from 1 June, stands at 16.48C – which is 1.88C above the 1991 to 2020 average.
To equal the 16.12C in 2025, the UK’s warmest summer on record, the rest of August would only need to be 0.21C below the long-term average, and any warmer than this would establish a new record for the country, the Met Office said.
And for England and Wales, which have seen temperatures more than 2C above average so far this summer, it is even more likely that June to August 2026 will be record-breaking.
And in a summer that has been marked by extreme weather, temperatures are to spike again this week.
Temperatures could reach as high as 38C on Thursday
07:34 , Holly EvansTemperatures could hit 33C on Wednesday before potentially reaching highs of 37C or 38C on Thursday, the Met Office say.
Met Office chief forecaster Chris Bulmer said: “While the peak heat will be more short-lived than recent heatwaves, temperatures widely into the mid-30s Celsius on Thursday brings the potential for impacts for some, which is why a Met Office warning has been issued.
“High pressure is now becoming dominant and temperatures will build day by day. Southerly and south-easterly winds will also tap into the hot conditions over Europe which helps develop this further notable heat in what has been a hot and dry summer so far for many in the south of the UK.”
Back to back heatwaves raising flood risk, experts warn
07:30 , Stuti MishraMonths of heat have left soil so dry and compacted that it will struggle to absorb rain when it returns, raising the risk of flash flooding within days of the drought breaking, researchers have warned.
"We can move from drought conditions to flooding in a very short space of time," said Jeff Da Costa, a researcher in hydrometeorological hazards at the University of Reading. "Flood preparedness needs to be ongoing because the risk is very real, even during a drought."
Rain returning will not end the drought either, he said. River levels recover relatively quickly while groundwater, reservoirs and soils take far longer, meaning the landscape can look green again and rivers can rise while serious water deficits remain underneath.
Yanchen Zheng, a senior research associate in hydrological modelling at the University of Bristol, also said hot weather drives water demand up at exactly the point when rivers and aquifers are lowest, and that recovery can take months or years. Current models tend to overestimate how much water is left in rivers, she said, a problem most acute in south-east England, which is densely populated, depends heavily on groundwater and is already short of water.
Water firm applies for rare order to ban businesses from non-essential water use
07:14 , Holly EvansSouthern Water has applied for a rare non-domestic drought order which would ban businesses from non-essential water use, including cleaning cars and filling swimming pools, saying an “exceptional” lack of rain has threatened supplies in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
It warned that 165,000 people in the Southampton West supply area could face restricted supplies.
Environment Secretary Angela Eagle will decide on the application, which would be the first such ban since May 2006.
Overnight: Large fire breaks out in Exeter park sending smoke across city
07:00 , James ReynoldsFirefighters raced to battle a major fire at a park in Exeter on Tuesday amid a worsening heatwave and drought conditions sweeping the country.
Smoke could been seen billowing over the city after a large fire broke out at in the Beacon Heath area.
Devon and Somerset fire and rescue service said a large grass fire had broken out at Mincinglake Valley Park just before 3pm and advised people to stay away.
The cause of the fire was not immediately clear. It comes as nearly three-quarters of England has been plunged into drought status following the driest July in 190 years.
Large fire breaks out in Exeter park sending smoke across city
Fire union chief warns of 'national emergency'
06:30 , Stuti MishraParts of the UK could be set to bake in 38C temperatures as a firefighters’ union chief warned the country faces a “national emergency” over wildfires.
Some areas face a fifth heatwave of the summer, as the Met Office revealed the UK is on course for its hottest summer on record.
Temperatures could hit 33C on Wednesday before potentially reaching highs of 37C or 38C on Thursday, the Met Office say.
Steve Wright, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, told Times Radio that the country faces a national emergency “right now”, with blazes seen “all across” the UK.
Firefighters have responded to 966 wildfires across England and Wales this year, including 185 in the first 10 days of August alone, while July was the busiest month on record for wildfires with 458 incidents, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said.
PM to chair emergency Cobra meeting today as temperatures head for 38C
06:14 , Stuti MishraPrime minister Andy Burnham will chair a meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee this afternoon in response to the heat, the wildfires it has fuelled and the drought now covering much of the country.
Ministers from the environment department, the Home Office and the health department will attend, along with the Environment Agency. It is the second Cobra meeting on the heat this year, after one held during the June heatwave.
Temperatures are forecast to reach 33C today and up to 38C tomorrow.
A Downing Street spokesperson said the government understood that firefighters, farmers and NHS staff were all facing pressures connected to the weather.
Mapped: Where drought has been declared in the UK as another heatwave looms
06:00 , James ReynoldsThe hot and dry weather is expected to continue into Wednesday with nearly three-quarters of England and all of Wales now suffering from drought conditions.
Temperatures are expected to peak around 33C in the Midlands and the south-east ahead of highs of 38C on Thursday, as a fifth heatwave of the year puts the UK on track for its hottest ever summer.
Some 71.3 per cent of England has been plunged into drought after a record dry July and a very dry start to August, putting immense pressure on water resources for homes and the environment.
Here’s the latest:
Mapped: Where drought has been declared in the UK as another heatwave looms
Remains of lost village uncovered as drought lowers reservoir levels
05:00 , Jane DaltonRemains of lost village uncovered as drought lowers reservoir levels in heatwave
What is a flash drought?
03:45 , Holly EvansMore than 45 million people are now living in areas under drought conditions as August begins with more dry weather and the fifth heatwave of the year.
More than two-thirds of England is affected, and the entirety of Wales. Only the northern-most regions are not been issued official drought status, but remain in the high-risk ‘prolonged dry weather’ category.
The National Drought Group says that most of the country (71.3 per cent) is now experiencing a ‘flash drought’, owing to the prolonged lack of rain paired with back-to-back heatwaves.
Read the full article here:
What is a flash drought? The weather phenomenon affecting two-thirds of Britons
How to keep your house cool without air conditioning during a heatwave
02:30 , Holly EvansWith heatwaves becoming hotter and more frequent, demand for air conditioning is expected to rise significantly. However, if the UK and similar countries respond to hotter summers simply by installing more AC, they risk creating a costly, energy-hungry and more unequal future. But there’s a cooler, smarter way forward.
Colleagues and I have surveyed more than 1,600 households across the UK and found that two-thirds used fans in the summer of 2022, and one in five used air conditioning. The vast majority of those AC units were bought during or after that year’s 40°C heatwave – showing how quickly habits can shift.
Read the full article here:
How to keep your house cool without air conditioning during a heatwave
In pictures: Cracked earth replaces pond
01:15 , Jane Dalton
Hosepipe ban: When will restrictions end?
Wednesday 12 August 2026 00:01 , Daniel KeaneHalf of England and parts of Wales are now subject to a hosepipe ban with almost three-quarters of the country plunged into drought.
Officials from the National Drought Group assessed on Monday that 71.3 per cent of the country is now in drought, with the addition of the East Midlands, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Kent, East Sussex, Solent and the South Downs.
That brings the total number of people affected up to 45 million as a fifth heatwave of the summer sweeps through England and Wales.
You can read where the hosepipe bans are in effect below.
Hosepipe ban: When will restrictions end?
Everything you can’t do in a heatwave as drought hits most of the UK
Tuesday 11 August 2026 23:00 , Holly EvansMore than half of England and Wales has been plunged into drought as the UK braces for its fifth heatwave of the year.
As the drought continues to pile pressure onto farming, freight shipping and energy production after the country saw its driest July in 190 years, here The Independent looks at everything this heatwave could stop you from doing.
Read the full article here:
Everything you can’t do in a heatwave as drought hits most of the UK
Southern Water seeks tighter crackdown on water use, warning of household curbs
Tuesday 11 August 2026 22:00 , Jane DaltonSouthern Water has applied for a rare non-essential-use ban drought order, which, if imposed, would mean businesses must stop using water for activities such as cleaning cars and filling non-domestic swimming pools.
In its application, the firm said an exceptional shortage of rain in the South East demonstrated “a clear threat” to supplies within the Hampshire Southampton West water resource zone, as well as the Isle of Wight (IOW).
It added that 165,000 people in the Southampton West supply area could soon be significantly affected by a restricted water supply.
The application will be considered by Environment Secretary Angela Eagle, and a decision is expected soon.
A non-essential use ban has not been imposed for 20 years. The last one was granted to Sutton and East Surrey Water in May 2006.
Firefighters' leader says equipping crews should be national priority
Tuesday 11 August 2026 20:44 , Jane DaltonFirefighters are under extra pressure due to an “unprecedented summer of dangerous and volatile wildfires”, the Fire Brigades Union says.
The union said it was a “national priority” to have enough properly equipped firefighters.
July was the busiest month on record for wildfires, statistics show, after firefighters attended 458 cases last month.
More than 120 firefighters are tackling a blaze in the New Forest in Hampshire that began on Sunday, and Nottinghamshire fire and rescue service declared a major incident on Sunday as two large fires in woodland near Mansfield put a significant strain on resources there.
Emergency calls to the London fire brigade have increased by almost a third this summer, according to a briefing seen by The Guardian.
The union says there are 12,000 fewer firefighters now than in 2010.
Steve Wright, the FBU general secretary, said: “Our country is facing unpredictable environmental challenges, and it must be a national priority to ensure we have enough properly equipped firefighters ready to face these threats.”
Analysis: Next pandemic won’t come from a lab but from the weather
Tuesday 11 August 2026 19:45 , Holly EvansTwo summers ago, heat sent record numbers of people into English A&E departments. Hospitals ran emergency protocols normally reserved for winter flu season. Nobody declared a health emergency; we just called it a hot week.
I trained in infectious disease epidemiology before I moved into climate and health policy, and what most unsettles me now isn’t a single dramatic moment but a pattern I keep seeing in the paperwork.
At the Cop26 summit in 2021, the headline outcome was near-universal agreement on net zero, most countries committing to reach it by 2050, some, like India, pushing that out to 2070.
Yet according to Oxford’s Net Zero Tracker, only a fraction of those pledges were strong, meaningful commitments with clear plans attached, just 18 per cent of global emissions and 27 per cent of global GDP covered by anything robust. The rest was a promise about a decade three governments from now.
Read the full analysis from policy adviser Aliza Ayaz here:
The next pandemic won’t come from a lab. It’ll come from the weather.
Climate crisis demands fundamental rethink of farming, says farming group
Tuesday 11 August 2026 18:30 , Holly EvansThe UK needs a fundamental rethink of how farmland is managed if it is to cope with increasingly severe floods, droughts and heatwaves driven by continued fossil fuel use, the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) says.
After another year of record-breaking heatwaves and droughts, the farmer-led organisation warns that short-term responses to individual weather events are no longer enough. Instead, farming policy and corporate investment must focus on long-term resilience.
The NFFN says farmers need to recognise water as their most valuable resource, prioritising healthy soils that can absorb and retain rainfall, alongside creating more on-farm ponds and reservoirs to store water for prolonged dry periods.
The organisation is calling on the Government and the private sector to provide greater financial support for water infrastructure and simplify the planning process for work with clear environmental outcomes.
Water mains bursts leaves taps dry in homes
Tuesday 11 August 2026 17:38 , Jane DaltonWater stations opened in Ilford, east London, and Chigwell, Essex, after burst water mains left thousands of homes and businesses with no water or low water pressure.
The affected areas are: E10, E11, E17, E18, E4, IG10, IG2, IG4, IG5, IG6, IG7, IG8, IG9 and RM4.
Thames Water said: “Our teams continue to work in the extreme heat to fix the multiple broken pipes in the area. We’re sorry to those who are still affected.
“Whilst progress is being made, it’s taking longer than normal to fix the broken pipes as often excavations are needing to be extended.”
Large fire breaks out in Exeter park, sending smoke across city
Tuesday 11 August 2026 17:35 , Jane Dalton
Large fire breaks out in Exeter park sending smoke across city
Rail services suspended in heatwave
Tuesday 11 August 2026 17:30 , Jane DaltonA railway company is suspending regional services because of the heatwave.
East Midlands Railway (EMR) said services between Sheffield and Liverpool would be suspended on Wednesday and Thursday.
It also said that regional services between Nottingham and Worksop and Nottingham and Leicester would be suspended from noon on Thursday.
Philippa Cresswell of EMR, said: “The hot weather means we’ll need to make some temporary changes to our services to keep the railway operating safely.
“If you do need to travel and the journey is essential, we’d recommend travelling before midday and checking your journey before setting off.
“We appreciate these changes may inconvenience some customers and we’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we work to keep people moving safely.”
All of England under amber heat health alert
Tuesday 11 August 2026 16:59 , Jane DaltonThe whole of England is under an amber heat health alert.
The system, run by the UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office, is intended to provide early warnings to the health and social care sector, responders, the voluntary and community sector and government departments when adverse temperatures are likely to affect people’s health and wellbeing.
The alerts run until 9pm on Friday.
Met Office graphic reveals changes caused by heatwaves
Tuesday 11 August 2026 16:30 , Holly EvansA graphic shared by the Met Office has revealed the dramatic change to the UK’s landscape caused by the limited rainfall and exceptional heat.
The impact of summer 2026 can perhaps best be seen from space
— Met Office (@metoffice) August 11, 2026
Exceptional heat combined with limited rainfall has truly transformed the landscape across the UK pic.twitter.com/4WC22Aemxe
UK farming not prepared for threat of new diseases amid changing weather
Tuesday 11 August 2026 16:10 , Holly Evans
UK farming could be ravaged by new diseases in climate crisis
