Image source, Getty Images

Most wildfires in the UK are caused by human activity.

With numerous reported across the UK so far over the summer, catalysed by this extended period of hot dry weather, the government has advice, external on how to prevent them happening, and what to do if you see one.

Prevent wildfires occurring by:

• Not lighting fires in the countryside or open spaces like parks, moorland and woods
• Only using barbecues in designated areas. They should never be left unattended, and must be fully put out before being disposed of - check the ash is cold
• Carefully dispose of cigarettes and other smoking materials
• Take all rubbish home, things like glass bottles can focus the sun's rays and cause fires
• Find out and follow specific local guidance and signage - there may be access restrictions in place

And if you see a wildfire:

• Move away from the fire to a safe location - do not attempt to tackle it yourself
• Alert authorities by calling 999 - you can use the Ordnance Survey app or what3words to give them an accurate location
• If fires are affecting the air quality of your area, keep windows and doors closed and always follow the advice of emergency services - including any instructions to evacuate or stay indoors

National Highways says a heathland fire in the New Forest has caused "significant damage to the road surface, road safety barrier and boundary fencing" of the nearby A31.

The blaze began when a van caught fire on the same road on Sunday.

National Highways says there is still no estimated time for when the A31 road will reopen and emergency repairs will be required when it's safe to do so.

Police say 23 drivers had to abandon their vehicles as the fire took hold - one woman tells us she feared her family's car might go up in flames.

In a new update, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service says more than 120 firefighters are continuing to tackle the blaze.

• Follow the latest on the New Forest fire in our dedicated live page

Amelia Riley
BBC News, Yorkshire

Image source, Amanda White/BBC

The hot and dry weather has been causing problems for farmers across the country.

Richard Beachell, who farms in Bainton, East Yorkshire, tells the BBC his fields are worryingly dry and there is "always that nagging thought in the back of your mind that one spark or if one bit of dust sets on fire then you're out of action".

Beachell says he had seen "big black plumes of smoke" on neighbouring farmland.

"You think, 'Yeah, that's another one gone... a combine harvester, a baler, a tractor or just a stubble fire'," he says.

As of the Environment Agency's last assessment, East Yorkshire has not been experiencing drought conditions. The region is classed as experiencing "prolonged dry weather" - the stage before a drought.

We're still waiting for an update from the National Drought Group on which English regions are in drought - stay with us.

Catherine Lyst
BBC Scotland

Despite better conditions in Scotland compared with England and Wales, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has issued warnings about water scarcity.

It said July's rainfall was below average for the south and east of Scotland, with many areas seeing less than half the long-term average for the month.

Periods of heavy rainfall across the country this week have resulted in some recovery in eastern catchments, but further rainfall is required for widespread improvements.

Which areas are affected?

• The Lower Don, River Teviot and Ettrick Water in the Scottish Borders all have "significant scarcity", according to Sepa
• Significant scarcity could also be reached within the next week in Mid-Dee (Ballater to Banchory), Lower Dee and Water of Feugh in Aberdeenshire unless there is sustained rainfall, it adds
• There is "moderate scarcity" in Deveron, Ythan, Don (Aberdeenshire), Dee (Aberdeen), Firth of Tay, Firth of Forth, Almond, Tyne (Lothian) and Tweed
• A lower level "alert" has been issued for Findhorn, Spey and Esk (Angus), Esk (Dumfriesshire), Annan and Dee (Galloway) and Cree
• There has also been an "early warning" for Conon, Ness, Tay, Earn, Forth, Nith, Doon and Clyde.
• The rest of Scotland has normal water levels, according to Sepa

Image source, Sepa

London's Hyde Park appears significantly drier than last summerpublished at 15:45 BST

15:45 BST

By Thomas Copeland

Another impact of this hot summer can be seen in central London where Hyde Park’s Serpentine lido has been closed due to blue-green algae contamination.

A comparison of satellite imagery shows how Kensington Gardens in particular appears significantly drier this year compared with the summer of 2025.

Satellite imagery gathered by Thomas Spencer

Simon King
Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

Image source, Getty Images

For England and Wales, there is no rain in the forecast through a lot of the week ahead as the next heatwave intensifies.

We have to look towards Sunday, where there are some signs of some rain coming into the UK from the Atlantic.

Low pressure bringing rain-bearing weather fronts will move in across Wales and southern England and - for some - a spell of rain.

While this doesn’t currently look to be particularly heavy or persistent, there could be the first bit of proper rain for many in nearly two months.

There could be a few showers at times across Scotland and Northern Ireland in the coming days, but these will be localised with most areas staying dry.

Longer-range forecasts are always subject to change but there may be a little bit more into next week - but amount of rain in any location may still be highly variable.

Beyond that, high pressure and more dry conditions look to be dominating the final week of August.

Esme Stallard
Senior climate and science reporter

Image source, Environment Agency/UK Government

Fish are becoming stranded and struggling to survive during the dry weather, the Environment Agency (EA) says.

Pools and rivers can dry up, whilst hot temperatures deplete oxygen levels in the water and pollution can be more concentrated, external.

Earlier this month hundreds of fish died in the River Wensum - which runs through Norwich - after heavy rainfall containing contaminants entered the river.

The hot weather meant that oxygen levels were already reduced, with fish struggling to breathe, and they became overwhelmed by the pollution according to experts.

The Shropshire Groundwater Scheme has been contributing the equivalent of 80 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water every day to the River Severn to help wildlife and and provide drinking water.

If water levels cannot be increased, then fish are captured and transported in oxygenated tanks to be relocated. But the fish must be healthy enough to travel and survive relocation - sometimes the stress already endured from the hot weather means such measures are not suitable.

Last week 650 fish including chubb, roach and minnow were moved safely from stranded positions in the River Exe at Bickleigh Mill, Devon.

BBC Newsbeat

By Eleanor Shearwood

As temperatures continue to rise, so do the chances of dry surfaces and levels of dust.

And some UK festival-goers have been feeling the impact - with many wearing face coverings and boots to try and avoid the clouds of dust being kicked up.

Ruth Casey tells BBC Newsbeat she brought a face covering to Maiden Voyage Festival in London on Saturday, as she's previously had issues at events.

While she remembers previous years being even "worse" with dust, the 28-year-old avid festival-goer says she has noticed the problem becoming a consistent issue for music fans.

She has a list of festivals she will be attending this summer abroad and in the UK and will be planning ahead for intense weather.

"I make sure I’m taking extra precautions, suncream, drinking enough water," she adds.

"I am still going to drink alcohol, but I’ll make sure I have a bottle of water between each drink and just making sure I am staying hydrated, keeping my sunglasses on."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Weather Watchers/Pete's Portal

Dry conditions in England and Wales have caused drought declarations - but what's the picture in Northern Ireland?

Northern Ireland Water says supply in the country is "in a stable position".

"We continue to monitor reservoir levels, demand and weather conditions closely", the national water company adds.

But it says it is still encouraging customers to "use water wisely, particularly during prolonged dry or warm periods, to help protect supplies for when they are needed most".

Turning off taps, using a watering can instead of a sprinkler or hose, and only running full loads in washing machines and dishwashers can all help towards this, it advises.

Half of England and the whole of Wales are in drought, and parts of southern England have seen almost two months without notable rain.

Here's a reminder of which regions in England are already experiencing drought conditions:

• East Anglia
• Hertfordshire
• London
• Thames Valley
• Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
• Devon and Cornwall
• The West Midlands
• Wessex - covering Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and South Gloucestershire

More areas are due to be declared this afternoon by England's National Drought Group - stay with us for their update.

Image source, Getty Images

Various warnings have been issued relating to heat and rainfall as drought conditions are being watched closely across the UK.

Here's a closer look at the key terms:

Drought: There is no single definition of drought, but it typically refers to a period of prolonged dry weather that can have impacts on people, nature and the environment.

The Environment Agency says some droughts are short and intense, caused by a hot and dry summer, while others are long and develop over multiple seasons due to low rainfall. Natural Resources Wales agrees that "every drought is different".

Water scarcity: This is the term used by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) to measure drought conditions. It refers to a lack of fresh water resources to meet standard demands.

Unlike the dry conditions in England and Wales, parts of north-west Scotland saw half a month’s rainfall over the weekend.

Heat health alert: These are warnings from the UK Health Security Agency that temperatures across England are "likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population". There are four levels ranging from green (least severe) to red (most severe).

The system is designed to help reduce illness and deaths during periods of extreme temperatures.

Extreme heat warnings: Issued by the Met Office, amber or red extreme heat warnings can be issued across all parts of the UK if the impacts are deemed severe enough.

The BBC understands the Met Office is considering issuing such a warning as the current heatwave intensifies.

Oliver Slow
Reporting from Cardiff

Image source, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service

The dry conditions in Wales have contributed to several wildfires across the country in recent weeks, and crews are currently tackling a large blaze on moorland in Blaenau Gwent.

A helicopter has been deployed to tackle the fire near Llangyndir Reservoir, Ebbw Vale, which was declared a major incident on Sunday.

Nick Rees, from Mid & West Fire and Rescue Service, said it was "envisioning a busy week" with the potential for "wildfires across the country".

He said one of the challenges crews are facing is the wind.

"We are very much susceptible to the change in wind conditions, which can push the fire and particularly the smoke into different directions," Rees told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

• Read more on this story

Simon King
Lead weather presenter, BBC Weather

With bone dry conditions continuing this week there will be some concern about wildfires.

The Met Office’s Fire Severity Index for Wednesday shows that if a wildfire were to occur in much of central and southern England it could become "exceptional" - the highest level on the index.

Elsewhere across England and Wales the index is at level four, or "very high".

According to the Met Office, the Fire Severity Index evaluates how severe a wildfire could become if one were to ignite under current weather conditions - but is not a prediction of when or where wildfires will start.

Image source, Arcgis/Natural England

In England's New Forest region, crews are continuing to tackle a heathland fire after a van caught fire on a neighbouring road.

Forestry England says the fire, which it describes as "significant", is now estimated to have affected more than 100 hectares (one square kilometre) of heathland - roughly the size of 140 football pitches.

A heathland is an ecologically important habitat home to a wide range of wildlife and sensitive wetlands.

In a statement, Forestry England adds the flames initially spread from the A31 to Bratley Wood but has since extended to the surrounding area.

"Incidents like this can be devastating to all of the things that make the New Forest so special," it says.

• For more updates on this story, head to our dedicated live page

Madeleine Lake
Live reporter

Jimmy O'Keeffe, whose picnic was interrupted by a small whirlwind in a London park on Sunday, tells me he was "shocked and in total disbelief".

The 35-year-old captured footage of the weather phenomenon - known as a dust devil - as it moved through Greenwich Park.

In the video, people can be seen getting up from the ground and screaming as the whirlwind surrounds them.

O'Keeffe tells me that it was "powerful" to see. "All the leaves were rustling and shaking next to us, and dust was everywhere."

He added that most people stayed calm, and that fortunately his picnic food had a "lucky escape."

The dust devil, which O'Keeffe says lasted only a few minutes, is a phenomenon which forms on warm, sunny days and is visible due to the dust or hay that they pick up and swirl around.

These conditions are typically found in desert and semi-arid areas.

Mark Poynting
Climate reporter

The frequency of drought is not easy to measure as there is no single definition.

For example, agricultural drought is different from meteorological drought - which is just a measure of how much rain has fallen compared with average.

The Environment Agency looks at all the different impacts before declaring a drought.

Drought declarations are not uncommon. As a very rough rule of thumb, notable droughts have historically happened a couple of times a decade over the past 50 years - although the droughts can vary widely in duration and scale.

This summer's drought is the third in five years for parts of England, which is unusual.

Droughts happen naturally but scientists have said that climate change is raising the risks, with higher summer temperatures drying out soils more quickly. This can turn a rainfall deficit into a more severe and longer-lasting drought.

Climate change is also expected to bring drier summers on average for the UK, although there has been no clear trend in summer rainfall so far.

Satellite images show impact of dry summerpublished at 13:00 BST

13:00 BST

By Thomas Copeland

We're analysing satellite imagery showing the impact of the lack of rain across England and Wales.

Clywedog reservoir near Llanidloes in mid-Wales provides water to central and north-west England. Water levels have fallen in recent weeks, according to government data, and it is now considered to be "exceptionally low".

A comparison of satellite imagery shows far more of the reservoir’s banks are exposed this summer compared with 2025 while the surrounding landscape also appears much browner.

At Stonehenge, the world-famous standing stones in Wiltshire, a side-by-side view shows how the fields around the site were green in July 2025 but are parched this summer due to the lack of rain.

Image source, EPA

Further parts of England are expected to be officially declared as being in a drought later today as England and Wales head towards what is likely to be the fifth heatwave of the year.

We've pulled together the latest:

Temperatures

Heat health alerts across most of England have been upgraded to amber this morning and will remain in place until 21:00 on Friday with the North East under a yellow warning for the same time period.

Temperatures are forecast to peak on Thursday with possible highs of 36C in the South East and up to 35C likely across central and eastern England.

Drought

A drought has already been declared across Wales and in large parts of England in the wake of persistent high temperatures and a long period without significant rainfall.

Parts of southern England have now had almost two months without notable rain, while further areas of the country are expected to also be declared in drought when the National Drought Group meets later today.

Scotland and Northern Ireland are not experiencing the same conditions.

Fires

The heat and lack of rainfall have also made it hard for emergency services to get fires under control.

The weekend saw a spate of fires across the Midlands, east of England and the South East as firefighters continue to tackle a blaze in Hampshire that began with a vehicle fire and has spread to nearby heathland in the New Forest.

The heat records are piling up in the UK and around the worldpublished at 12:18 BST

12:18 BST

Justin Rowlatt
Climate editor

What’s really striking about this summer is not any single record, but the way these weather extremes are piling up.

Climate change does not cause every heatwave or drought, but it does shift the odds.

By raising average temperatures, it makes extreme heat more likely. And, when rain fails, it increases evaporation and dries soils faster.

That creates a feedback - dry ground cools the air less, allowing temperatures to climb still higher.

The UK is now seeing the kind of hotter, drier summers climate scientists have long projected. And this is part of a global pattern of heat.

July 2026 was the joint second warmest July globally on record – 1.47C above the pre-industrial average – only July 2023 was warmer. And this morning the EU weather service, Copernicus, announced that Western Europe had its hottest June and July on record helping to drive the devastating wildfires we have seen.

Image source, Uros Arsic_AFP_via Getty Images

Mark Poynting
Climate reporter

Official drought declarations are made by the Environment Agency in England, but water companies can also apply for “drought permits” and “drought orders”.

These are designed to help them manage water resources during periods of exceptionally low rainfall.

Drought permits temporarily modify water companies’ licences, which can allow them to take extra water from the environment such as a river.

Drought orders go a step further and means the companies or the Environment Agency can limit who is taking water from the system and how much they use.

It requires approval by the Environment Secretary in England.

In last summer’s drought, 46 drought permits and two drought orders were granted.

This summer, South West Water has already applied for a drought permit, while other companies are considering drought permits and orders, according to the Environment Agency.