1 July 2022
Drought and heatwave brought hosepipe ban to Surrey
Surrey County Council has said that drought combined with a heatwave in summer 2022 left most of the county under a hosepipe ban, in its official summary of local emergency risks.
News
We cover news from public bodies and utility companies for UK households on power cuts, weather, water, health, safety and security. Each report includes the date and sources, with links to our guides.
July 2022
1 July 2022
New national temperature records set for Wales and Scotland during unprecedented heatwave
The Met Office reports that temperatures exceeded 40°C in the UK for the first time on record on 19 July 2022, with new national records for Wales and Scotland during an unprecedented heatwave.
1 July 2022
Heatwave drives 983 wildfires and 14 major incidents in England and Wales
The National Fire Chiefs Council reports that the 2022 summer heatwave produced 983 wildfires in England and Wales, with 14 fire and rescue services declaring major incidents on 18 and 19 July.
1 July 2022
First-ever red weather warning issued for Suffolk
Suffolk County Council has confirmed that parts of the county reached up to 39C in mid-July 2022 and received its first-ever red weather warning, with firefighters attending more than 500 outdoor…
1 July 2022
England had its joint hottest summer on record with widespread disruption
The Met Office says England had its joint hottest summer on record in 2022, with widespread disruption as travel, infrastructure and healthcare were affected by the heat.
1 July 2022
Supply interruptions hit Charing, Challock and Molash during July 2022 heat
South East Water has set out more than £50 million of investment in east Kent after customers in Charing, Challock and Molash went without water for several days in July 2022.
1 July 2022
South West Water urges customers to avoid non-essential water use
South West Water has urged customers to avoid non-essential water use, including hosepipes for gardening and washing cars and windows, during a prolonged period of hot and dry weather.
1 July 2022
Record 85,397 category 1 ambulance callouts in July 2022
NHS England reported that July 2022 saw 85,397 category 1 ambulance callouts, the highest number since records began, despite the heatwave that month.
1 July 2022
SFRS crews fought 370 wildfires in July and August 2022
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service has said its crews fought 370 wildfires in July and August 2022, as it trials farmer-designed adapters letting fire engines draw water from farm bowsers and tanks.
June 2022
20 June 2022
Draft Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 debated in Second Committee for Delegated Legislation
Draft regulations requiring carbon monoxide alarms in rented homes and new builds in England were debated in the Second Committee for Delegated Legislation on 20 June 2022, ahead of approval in the…
17 June 2022
Amber wildfire alert issued for weekend in Dorset and Wiltshire area
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service issued an Amber wildfire alert for parts of its area for the coming weekend during hot weather, warning that any fire could spread quickly.
17 June 2022
Temperatures set to hit 35°C in the South East, hottest day since 2020
The Lullaby Trust issued advice for parents on keeping babies safe and cool as temperatures were forecast to reach 35°C in the South East on 17 June 2022, the hottest day since 2020.
17 June 2022
Rhwymedigaeth i ddarparu gwasanaeth cyfnewid fideo brys yn dod i rym
Ofcom's requirement for regulated telecoms providers to supply an approved emergency video relay service for British Sign Language users took effect on 17 June 2022.
14 June 2022
Heat-health watch alert set at level 1 for England
NHS England has issued a level 1 summer preparedness heat-health alert for England, stating that temperatures are not expected to reach heatwave thresholds until further notice.
13 June 2022
Met Office forecasts first hot weather spell of 2022 for late week
The Met Office forecasts the first hot spell of 2022, with temperatures reaching 30C or 33C in isolated spots in the southern half of the UK by Friday 17 June.
9 June 2022
BEIS/E3C and Ofgem publish final reports on Storm Arwen response
The final reports into the response to Storm Arwen have been published, setting out actions to improve electricity network resilience, with three network operators agreeing to pay an additional £10.28…
9 June 2022
Ofgem publishes final report on DNOs' response to Storm Arwen
Ofgem has published its final report into how electricity distribution network operators responded to Storm Arwen, with recommendations on resilience, communication, compensation and winter planning.
8 June 2022
Ofcom rules protecting essential phone boxes come into force
Ofcom's new rules protecting public phone boxes in areas with poor mobile coverage or high accident rates came into force on 8 June 2022, safeguarding boxes still needed by local communities.
1 June 2022
National incident declared after poliovirus found in London sewage
A national incident was declared in June 2022 after vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 was found in sewage samples from the London Beckton Sewage Treatment Works, taken between February and May.
1 June 2022
Unprecedented wildfires during the UK summer 2022 heatwave
Official guidance cites the summer 2022 heatwave as evidence of an unprecedented number of UK wildfires, particularly in urban areas such as London, and warns fire danger is rising with climate…