• Published

Drought is likely to be declared across more of the UK this week, as another widespread heatwave develops with no significant rain in the forecast.

Bone dry conditions will continue for many as temperatures rise to as high as 35C (95F) by the middle of next week.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued yellow heat health alerts for most of England until 21:00 BST on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency (EA) has suggested that "several areas" of England could enter drought status as "public water supplies remain under increasing pressure with continued dry weather and high demand".

Sunday will be a warmer day across many areas with temperatures widely getting up to the mid to high twenties Celsius. South-east England will be even hotter where temperatures will rise to over 30C and possibly as high as 33C.

This will break the record for the highest number of days on which the temperature has exceeded 30C somewhere in the UK. The previous record was 34 days in 1995.

After a cooler day on Monday, temperatures will then rise widely across the UK from Tuesday.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, temperatures will typically reach the low to mid twenties.

In England and Wales, temperatures will rise into the mid to high twenties Celsius and widely across east Wales, central, eastern and southern England in excess of 30C.

The heat is set to peak on Thursday, with readings of 35C possible in south-east England.

If this happens, it will be the fourth consecutive month of 35C or more being recorded.

The threshold for declaring an official heatwave is likely to be reached widely across England and Wales, making it the fifth heatwave of the year for many.

Yellow heat health alerts are in effect for most of England until 21:00 BST on Tuesday, warning of impacts for health and social care services and an increased risk to life for vulnerable people.

These are likely to be updated in the coming days as heatwave conditions develop.

As the hot and dry weather continues for much of the UK, drought status could be declared in additional parts of England this week, the EA has suggested.

For the seventh consecutive week, less than 10mm of rain fell across the country, with east and south-east England seeing less than 1mm of rain, according to data from the agency's latest drought summary.

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

Reservoir levels have continued to fall, with almost all across England below normal and five classed as 'exceptionally low', according to the EA.

Wisley in Surrey has gone more than 50 days without a drop of rain. Southern England is approaching two months without any notable rainfall.

Customers of South West Water were the latest to see a hosepipe ban introduced on Saturday.

There are now more than 20 million people in the UK living in an area where prolonged dry weather combined with heatwaves and high demand for water has led to restrictions on usage.