UK's fifth 36C mega heatwave will see drought declared with health alerts in place

More parts of the UK are set to move into drought conditions this week as a fifth mega heatwave looms. And with no major rain forecast, the bone dry weather will continue for many as temperatures soar to highs of 36C by Thursday down south.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued yellow heat health alerts for most of England until tomorrow (August 11) night. And the Environment Agency warned "several areas" of England could enter drought status as "public water supplies remain under increasing pressure with continued dry weather and high demand".

More than half of England and the whole of Wales are already under drought conditions.

And it is nearly two months since any major rainfall in southern England. Reservoir levels have continued to fall with almost all across England below normal and five classed as "exceptionally low", according to environment chiefs.

Customers of South West Water were the latest to be slapped with a hosepipe ban on Saturday. There are now more than 20 million people in the UK living in an area with limits on water usage.

Elsewhere, the record for the highest number of 30C days in a calendar year was smashed yesterday (August 9). Parts of the south-east recorded more than 30C, beating the previous record of 34 days in 1995.

After a cooler day today (Monday), the mercury is set to rocket across the nation from Tuesday into the mid to high 20s. Temperatures will further soar past 30C on Wednesday.

Deputy chief forecaster Mike Silverstone said: Humidity levels are also expected to increase through the week, which may make conditions feel more uncomfortable, particularly overnight.

Meanwhile, Britain's wine industry is booming thanks to the scorching summer. Amateur plonk makers say the sizzling conditions are helping to boost their vines.

And more people are growing grapes and making their own booze from Croydon, south London, to Yorkshire. There has been a 18.8% rise in interest in growing the fruit outdoors compared with last year.

Guy Barter, from The Royal Horticultural Society, reckons after recent long hot summers we could be looking at a cottage wine industry in the south at least in the next year or so.

Peter Kirk runs his own micro-vineyard in Towthorpe, Yorks. He begun with 300 vines and now has 700 to flog bottles of wine. He said the sunshine had made a massive difference, adding: The heats great because it kick-starts the vines.

There were 90 hobby vineyards in 2025, a 4.7% increase on the previous year, Food Standards Agency figures show.

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