Grass has become parched by the lack of rain in Britain as a further 16 million people were warned they could face a hosepipe ban amid the summer's third heatwave. Landscapes have turned from green to brown across the country following England's hottest spring from March to May on record and the driest in over a century. That was followed by the hottest June on record, then two heatwaves in the second part of the month and into July and another impacting some areas this week.
Now, a yellow heat health alert has been extended to the whole of England, with temperatures set to hit 31C (88F) and climb to 33C (91F) over the coming days. And Thames Water revealed it would impose a hosepipe ban after 'ongoing dry weather and increased customer demand' unless the situation 'changes significantly'. Customers were urged by the company to use water sparingly given the region it serves has seen just half of its expected rainfall over the last three months.
The Environment Agency has declared a state of 'prolonged dry weather' in large parts of Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey - meaning a heightened risk of drought. Thames Water said daily demand in Swindon and Oxfordshire peaked during the UK's last heatwave on June 30 at a level not seen since in the 2022 drought. People are being encouraged to take shorter showers, turn the tap off while brushing teeth and letting their lawn go dry to help reduce big increases in demand.
Bosses also warned that the extended warm weather was bringing 'increased risks of leaks and bursts due to pipe stress and shifting foundations in the ground'. A Thames Water spokesman said: 'The ongoing dry weather and increased customer demand is impacting our water supplies across the Thames Valley. 'Unless the situation changes significantly, we will need to put usage restrictions, including a hosepipe ban, in place to ensure taps keep running for customers' essential use.'
Further north, households in Yorkshire will become the first to be hit with a hosepipe ban from tomorrow after months of extremely hot and dry weather across England. Yorkshire Water said restrictions on using hosepipes for activities such as watering the garden, cleaning cars and filling paddling pools will be brought in to try to protect supplies in the face of more dry weather forecast in the coming weeks.
Customers who ignore the hosepipe ban could face fines of up to £1,000, but the utility said 'we hope it won't come to that' as it urged households to help conserve water by sticking to the restrictions. The temporary restrictions coming into force for Yorkshire include using a hosepipe to water gardens and wash private vehicles, fill domestic pools or clean outdoor surfaces.
People can still wash their car and water their gardens using tap water from a bucket or watering can, while the region’s 139,000 businesses will be allowed to use a hosepipe if it is directly related to an essential commercial purpose - but not for other uses such as cleaning paths outside a business property. Youlgrave Waterworks, a private firm which supplies 500 homes in Derbyshire, became the first to introduce a hosepipe ban at the start of last month. But Yorkshire Water is the first major utility to bring in restrictions for its 5.7million customers.
The company said the region has experienced both the driest and warmest spring on record this year, receiving just 15cm (6in) of rainfall between February and June, less than half of what is expected in an average year. There has also been a higher water demand, leaving the region’s reservoirs at 55.8 per cent full, which is 26.1 per cent lower than they would normally be at this time of year.
Scientists claim human-caused climate change is driving increasingly extreme weather such as hotter drier summers, and making heatwaves such as those seen recently, which can push up water use just as supplies are scarce, more intense and frequent. A drought was declared by the Environment Agency across Yorkshire last month, while the North West of England entered drought status in May - though the region’s water company United Utilities said on Tuesday it had no plans to announce a similar hosepipe ban.
It comes as the country’s third heatwave within a month began yesterday, with temperatures of up to 33C (91F) expected and Wimbledon fans and players in for a sweltering weekend. Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said: ‘It’ll be a sunnier day on Thursday compared to Wednesday. Some mist and low cloud possible in around the Irish Sea as well. ‘That may affect the east coast of Northern Ireland, the south-west of Scotland and the Isle of Man at times, but again, most places will be sunnier than today across England,Wales,Southern Scotland,Northern Ireland.
‘There will be this chain of thicker cloud,rain and drizzle at times across the far north of the mainland of Scotland,the Northern Isles,and the Western Isles where as a result,it will again be on the coolish side with temperatures a touch below average,perhaps in the mid-teens. ‘But elsewhere,we’ll be ticking those temperatures up once more,particularly across England and Wales.First day likely to get over 30C,but it won’t be the last day this week.
‘All thanks to an area of high pressure squashing the air and the combination of that and the sunshine this time of year will allow those temperatures to continue to rise into the weekend. ‘So,the hot conditions are going to last through the weekend.’ The Met Office said the tennis championships’ women’s final on Saturday and men’s final on Sunday could see the mercury rise above 30C (86F) amid very high UV and pollen levels.
Scotland is also due to hit the heatwave threshold, with temperatures on the east coast forecast to be up to 31C (88F) on Saturday and potentially break local records, according to Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick. Despite not being as warm as the heatwave at the beginning of July, the hot spell is forecast to last longer and cover a broader area. Mr Eslick said: ‘It is going to be a hot one with little cloud around. UV levels are going to be pretty high so anyone going to the (Wimbledon) finals should wear plenty of sun cream and stay hydrated as there is not going to be too much of a breeze to cool down.
‘Pollen levels are also going to be high, so any hayfever sufferers should take medication to reduce that risk.’ On Tuesday, the UK Health Security Agency issued yellow heat health alerts covering parts of central and southern England, valid from yesterday until next Tuesday. Today, the alerts were extended to all regions of England. It comes after two amber heat health alerts were issued in consecutive weeks at the end of last month amid two separate heatwaves.
This week, temperatures are not expected to beat the 35.8C (78.4F) at Faversham in Kent on July 1 during the second heatwave of 2025 - which was the UK's hottest day in three years. That beat the warmest day of 2024 which was 34.8C (94.6F) in Cambridge on August 12; and the 2023 peak which was 33.5C (92.3F) on September 10, also in Faversham. The 2022 high of 40.3C (104.5F) on July 19 in Lincolnshire remains the UK's highest temperature on record. The peak during the first heatwave of this year was at Charlwood in Surrey which got up to 33.2C (91.8F) on June 21.
Today, in the South of England and Wales, temperatures of up to 31C (88F) are possible before 32C (90F) tomorrow. On the east coast of Scotland, temperatures are expected to reach 25C (77F) today and 28C (82F) tomorrow. They should peak at up to 31C (88F) on Saturday before coming down to 28C (82F) or 29C (84F) on Sunday. The temperature will slowly start to decrease by Monday or Tuesday. In the north of England, today could see highs of 27C (81F), edging up to 29C (84F) on tomorrow and 30C (86F) on Saturday with isolated highs of 31C (88F).
Mr Eslick added that the weekend would be very sunny and dry, with the wildfire risk classed as moderate. He said: ‘We’ve not had a lot of rain over the last few days and weeks. Make sure barbecues are extinguished thoroughly as the ground will be pretty dry.’ To be considered a heatwave, the temperature needs to reach or surpass 28C (82F) in the South and 25C (77F) in the North for at least three consecutive days. Met Office meteorologist Clare Nasir advised people to ‘stay hydrated’, echoing warnings from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) which urged the public to drink water regularly, seek shade and use sunscreen.
Steve Cole, policy director at RoSPA, said: ‘Heat is no longer just a holiday perk - it’s a growing public health risk. We’re seeing more frequent and intense heatwaves, both in the UK and globally, and the data shows a clear rise in heat-related illness and fatalities.’ The Liberal Democrats called on the Government to open ‘cool hubs’ in public spaces with air-conditioning - such as gyms, leisure centres and libraries - to provide vulnerable people with respite from the heat. The party’s energy spokesperson, Pippa Heylings, said: ‘Cool hubs could provide a lifeline to the most vulnerable in our communities who are struggling in the sweltering conditions.’
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency issued a reminder that medicines left in the heat might not work properly and should be stored somewhere cool, dry and out of direct sunlight. The agency also warned some medicines can make a person more likely to burn in the sun, feel dizzy or get dehydrated. People are urged to take extra care when it comes to barbecues in the heat. Leigh Hamilton, ranger service manager at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority, said: ‘May’s wildfire at Glen Finglas, caused by a carelessly discarded disposable barbecue, is a stark reminder as to the devastating impact a single reckless act can have on our National Park.
‘This summer, as we face continued drier, more fire-prone conditions, we urge everyone to be vigilant and act responsibly, especially during high-risk periods. Avoid naked flames including disposable barbecues, dispose of waste properly, and call 999 immediately if you witness a wildfire.’ And RAC breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson warned of a ‘surge’ in vehicles breaking down in the recent heat. She said: ‘With above-average temperatures in many parts expected for the foreseeable future, very high volumes of breakdowns will persist through this coming weekend and well into next week.
‘Drivers should do whatever they can to avoid their vehicles letting them down in these conditions - oil and coolant levels, as well as tyres,must be checked before journeys are made. ‘If anything isn’t right,get the problem diagnosed by a mobile mechanic or reputable garage,rather than running the risk of driving. ‘Taking plenty of breaks on long journeys,to give themselves and their cars a rest,is also important.’