Authorities Warn of Health Risks as Fourth Heat Wave Brings Temperatures of Up to 33 Degrees Celsius.
On Wednesday, the Environment Agency reported that seven areas of England are officially in drought because of a hot and dry summer.
RELATED:
Brazil Announces $260 Million Package to Prepare for El Niño
The affected areas are eastern England, London, the areas north of the capital, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Devon and Cornwall, and western England. Those areas have received only 7% of the rainfall expected for July.
“The hot and dry weather means we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it,” said Helen Wakeham, the Environment Agency’s Water director.
This week, British health authorities issued an amber heat alert for the fourth heat wave in England, where temperatures are expected to reach 33 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
Much of England now officially in drought.
Pretty remarkable when 6 months ago many of the same areas were underwater after an exceptionally wet winter.
We haven’t got the ability to retain water or the infrastructure to treat it fast enough.
We need to acquire it. Fast. pic.twitter.com/WfZEEOiwGu
— Dave Throup (@DaveThroup) July 29, 2026
The UK Health Security Agency warned that rising temperatures could increase health risks, especially among the most vulnerable groups, such as children and older adults.
An amber alert indicates that high temperatures are affecting the health care system and pose a risk to the health of the general population, not only vulnerable groups, while public health services are expected to face increased pressure because of greater demand for ambulance and emergency services.
The United Kingdom has already experienced three heat waves this year. The first lasted from May 22 to May 31, when temperatures in southern England reached 35 degrees Celsius, while the second occurred from June 19 to June 28, with temperatures reaching 37.7 degrees Celsius.
The third heat wave was much longer, beginning on July 4 and lasting until July 26 in some parts of southern England, with temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius, well above those normally expected at this time of year.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.