Amber extreme heat warning issued for parts of Norfolk

An amber weather warning for extreme heat has been issued for parts of Norfolk for Thursday, with highs of 35C forecast in Downham Market, the Eastern Daily Press reports¹. The warning comes at the end of a prolonged dry and hot spell that the Environment Agency has described as a "flash drought" in the county¹.

July 2026 was the driest July since records started in 1836, with England having just 7pc of expected rainfall¹. An Anglian Water hosepipe ban has been in place since July 11 in Norfolk, banning people from using hosepipes to water gardens, clean vehicles or fill paddling pools¹. The Environment Agency says irrigation restrictions on farmers are increasing, with 1,534 now in place in East Anglia, and around 300 of the region's abstractors are in the process of having to reduce the amount they can take from rivers by 50pc to protect the environment, due to exceptionally low flows¹.

Ponds and rivers around the county have begun to dry up due to the hot weather and drought conditions, including Scotsman's Pit at Great Massingham, near King's Lynn, where 100 carp perished¹. Last week thousands of dead fish were removed from the River Wensum, with experts blaming low river levels and the soaring temperatures¹. Elveden Estate's new £3m reservoir has run dry this summer¹.

The Eastern Daily Press reports that the first showers are expected as early as Friday and are due to continue until Wednesday, according to BBC Weather¹. Cooler temperatures are also expected for the coming weeks, with the highest predicted temperature being 23C until Wednesday, August 26¹. Experts are not predicting heavy rain and measures like the hosepipe ban are unlikely to be removed yet¹.

Why it matters for households

The amber warning covers parts of Norfolk for Thursday, with the highest temperature of 35C forecast for Downham Market¹. Households in the warned area are affected on that day. The hosepipe ban remains in place across Norfolk, and the Eastern Daily Press reports that measures like it are unlikely to be removed yet despite the forecast rain¹. The Environment Agency's irrigation restrictions affect farmers and abstractors across East Anglia, with 1,534 restrictions in place and around 300 abstractors reducing what they take from rivers by 50pc¹.

The Met Office's warning levels, including amber, are set out in the guide to Met Office weather warnings, and heat alerts are explained in Heat-Health Alerts: Yellow, Amber and Red Explained. The guide to who is most at risk in hot weather sets out which groups are most vulnerable during high temperatures, and the Adverse Weather and Health Plan explains how services respond. Households can find out how to receive warnings through signing up for Met Office weather alerts and signing up for Heat-Health Alerts. Further background is in the heatwaves and drought hub.

What happens next

Showers are expected from Friday until Wednesday, according to BBC Weather, with cooler temperatures forecast and a highest predicted temperature of 23C until Wednesday, August 26¹. The Eastern Daily Press reports that heavy rain is not predicted and that the hosepipe ban is unlikely to be removed yet¹.