LONDON — Europe is bracing for another spell of extreme heat, with Britain entering its fifth heatwave of 2026 and temperatures forecast to reach about 37°C (99°F) in parts of southern and eastern England, while prolonged heat and drought continue to strain water supplies and raise wildfire risks.
Britain's Met Office has forecast temperatures of up to 37°C across southern and eastern England and parts of the Midlands. Prime Minister Andy Burnham was due to chair an emergency government meeting on Thursday to coordinate the response to heatwaves, drought and wildfires, according to the government.
The latest heatwave comes after an unusually hot start to the year across western Europe. The Copernicus Climate Change Service said an intense heatwave in May affected much of western Europe, with daily average temperatures in parts of western France, England and Wales more than 10°C above the 1991-2020 average.
A separate heatwave affected much of western and central Europe in June. Copernicus said June was the warmest June on record for western Europe, with the regional average 3.06°C above the 1991-2020 average.
The latest heat is adding to already severe drought conditions in Britain. Reuters reported that around 45 million people were living in areas affected by drought, while 27 million faced water restrictions. Fire services had responded to hundreds of wildfires across England and Wales this year, including a sharp increase during August.
The British government has also been considering measures to reduce wildfire risks, including possible restrictions on disposable barbecues, as dry vegetation and high temperatures increase the danger of fires.
The European Drought Observatory said drought conditions remained critical across much of Europe in mid-July and had worsened in parts of central and western Europe. It said a prolonged heatwave had moved from the Iberian Peninsula into central and western Europe before affecting Italy and Mediterranean coastal areas.
Copernicus has warned that Europe's rapid warming is increasing the likelihood of heatwaves occurring earlier and later in the year. The agency said Europe has warmed by about 0.56°C per decade since the mid-1990s, more than twice the global average over the same period.
Authorities across affected areas are urging residents to limit exposure to extreme heat, remain hydrated and check on vulnerable people as temperatures rise. Britain is expected to remain under heightened heat and wildfire pressure as the current spell develops.
