21 July 2026
Guidance updated with lower age threshold for heat risk
The UK Health Security Agency has updated its hot weather guidance for England, lowering the age at which older people are treated as at higher risk of heat harm from 75 to 65.
Weather 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 2026
20 July 2026
Wildfire warning extended to Friday 24 July
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Scottish Wildfire Forum have extended a Very High wildfire risk warning for Central Highlands, Southern and Eastern Scotland until Friday 24 July.
20 July 2026
South East Water hosepipe ban extends to Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire
South East Water has announced that its hosepipe ban will extend to customers in Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire from 25 July 2026, following restrictions already in force in Kent since 3…
16 July 2026
NRW moves North Wales, Upper Severn and South East Wales catchments to prolonged dry weather status
Natural Resources Wales moved catchments in North Wales, the Upper Severn and South East Wales into prolonged dry weather status on 16 July 2026, with several areas later moved to drought status.
15 July 2026
Significant wildfire breaks out near Glenmore in Cairngorms National Park
A wildfire near Glenmore in the Cairngorms National Park, first reported shortly before 12pm on 15 July 2026, grew to around 10 square kilometres and led to evacuations, road closures and a major…
14 July 2026
South Staffs Water asks customers to cut non-essential water use to avoid a hosepipe ban
South Staffs Water has asked all its customers to use water for essential purposes only after demand reached record levels in prolonged hot, dry weather, warning that restrictions may follow.
13 July 2026
Research estimates around 2,700 excess deaths from May and June heatwaves
Analysis by the Met Office, Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine estimates around 2,700 excess deaths across England and Wales during the May and June…
13 July 2026
Welsh Water asks for customer help as demand passes a billion litres a day
Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water asked customers to help keep taps flowing after demand passed a billion litres a day during the third heatwave of 2026.
10 July 2026
Southern Water hosepipe ban starts for Hampshire and Isle of Wight customers
Southern Water brought in hosepipe restrictions for its customers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight on 10 July 2026, one of a series of temporary use bans introduced by water companies during a dry…
10 July 2026
Essex & Suffolk Water appeals to Suffolk customers to use less water during heat spell
Essex & Suffolk Water has formally asked customers in Suffolk to use less water after three heatwaves and almost no rain since 1 July, with demand up seven million litres a day.
9 July 2026
NWAS issues health advice as hot weather set to return to the North West
North West Ambulance Service has issued health advice from its Medical Director as high temperatures are forecast to return to the North West in the coming days and into next week.
9 July 2026
Cambridge Water imposes temporary hosepipe ban
Cambridge Water has imposed a temporary hosepipe ban across its region from 9 July 2026, enforceable from 1am on 17 July 2026, after record demand and one of the driest springs in recent years.
9 July 2026
DWFRS warns of exceptional wildfire conditions over the weekend
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has warned that Dorset and Wiltshire face exceptionally difficult wildfire conditions this weekend, after attending four significant field fires in a single…
8 July 2026
UK records first run of 35°C days in May, June and July as heatwave continues
The Met Office reports the first year in the UK weather record with temperatures of 35°C or higher in May, June and July, as heat health alerts remain in place across England.
8 July 2026
Guidance updated to specify children under 5 and clarify attendance measures
UK health and climate bodies have updated official guidance for schools and early years settings in England on hot weather, specifying children under 5 and clarifying measures that support attendance.
8 July 2026
Multiple land fires in Dorset and Wiltshire during dry spell
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has attended a number of fires involving large areas of land, fields and heath since 8 July 2026, and warns of exceptionally difficult wildfire conditions…
8 July 2026
NFCC warns of increased wildfire risk during hot and dry weather
The National Fire Chiefs Council has warned that the UK's third heatwave since late May is raising wildfire risk, and asked people to avoid disposable barbecues and extinguish cigarettes fully.
8 July 2026
UK temperatures exceed 30C during heatwave week
Temperatures exceeded 30C in some parts of the UK in the week to 8 July 2026, as nutrition specialists set out how eating and drinking affect the body in hot weather.
6 July 2026
Alerts escalated to amber for six regions from 8 July
The UK Health Security Agency has raised heat-health alerts to amber for six regions of England and issued yellow alerts for three others, running from 9am on Wednesday 8 July until 9pm on Sunday 12…
6 July 2026
BHF updates hot weather and heart guidance
The British Heart Foundation has updated its guidance on hot weather and the heart, setting out who is most at risk and how heat affects blood pressure, medicines and existing heart conditions.