Week-long heatwave due in England with 34C peak in south-east

A week-long heatwave is expected across parts of England and Wales from Sunday, July 4th to Saturday, July 11th, with peak temperatures potentially reaching 34°C in the south-east by Thursday or Friday. The UK Health Security Agency has issued yellow heat health alerts for most regions of England due to the risk of increased healthcare service use by vulnerable people and a greater risk to life for this group. The Met Office forecasts temperatures in the south-east to climb from 29°C on Sunday to the low 30s next week. This heatwave is expected to be prolonged but less hot and humid than last month's. In response to the dry conditions, Southern Water has implemented a hosepipe ban in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight starting July 10th.

Europe experienced record-breaking heatwaves in June, with temperatures significantly exceeding previous highs across the continent, including the UK. Scientists attribute these extreme events to human-induced climate change driven by the burning of fossil fuels. The intensity of the heat was amplified by high humidity and unusually warm nights, leading to conditions like "tropical nights" where temperatures remained above 20C. Multiple European countries, including France and Spain, set new June temperature records, with some exceeding 40C. Experts warn that Europe is warming faster than the global average, making it more susceptible to frequent and intense heatwaves, a trend consistent with scientific predictions for a warming world.

France experienced its hottest June on record since 1947, with unprecedented day and night temperatures affecting over a third of the country. The heatwave, from June 17 to 30, saw temperatures exceed 40C in more than 40 percent of France, with the average temperature for the month being 22.7C, 3.8C above seasonal norms. June 24 and 25 recorded the highest average temperatures ever in France, across all months. This second heatwave of the year led to a 29 percent surge in deaths during the hottest week, with at least 2,000 more deaths reported compared to the previous week, overwhelming hospitals. Schools were closed and festivals cancelled due to the extreme heat.

France has recorded 2,025 excess deaths during a recent heatwave, with the highest numbers reported in the south and east of the Netherlands where temperatures neared 40C. Forecasters are warning of further extreme temperatures across Europe in the coming days, with the south of France expected to reach 40C. Météo-France has issued red alerts for forest fires in southern France due to very high risk conditions. Since the start of summer, nearly 7,000 fires have broken out, burning approximately 8,700 hectares, and leading to the evacuation of nearly 3,000 people from Sainte-Marie-la-Mer and Canet-en-Roussillon. The Iberian Peninsula is also bracing for the possibility of another heatwave.

Spain and France are preparing for another heatwave, with temperatures potentially reaching 44°C. This comes after June's extreme heat caused over 2,000 excess deaths in the two countries, with approximately 1,000 attributed to each. Spain's meteorological agency warned of increased wildfire risk and advised vulnerable populations to take precautions. Scientists link these severe heat events to the climate crisis. In France, the heatwave led to a rise in drowning deaths and strained emergency services, with a significant increase in heatstroke and dehydration call-outs. The intense heat also caused public disturbances in Paris as people scrambled to buy scarce air-conditioning units.