England and Wales have experienced their driest ever July, according to new provisional data from the Met Office. The statistics also show that southern England has experienced its driest ever month, as the country contends with an unusual lack of rain. The figures point to a summer that has stood out sharply from typical conditions across much of the country.
Alongside the dry conditions, the authorities have moved to warn the public over the heat. Amber and yellow heat health alerts have been issued for most of England due to the hot weather, with temperatures forecast to reach the mid-30s in the southeast. The alerts are intended to make sure that people are able to take the necessary precautions to keep themselves safe.
The alerts have been split across the country by severity. The East Midlands, the east of England, the southeast and London are under amber alerts until 9am on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the northwest, the West Midlands and the southwest have been placed under a yellow warning, reflecting a slightly lower but still notable level of concern.
The Met Office has set out just how exceptional the month has been. In a statement, the Met Office science manager Dr Amy Doherty said that July 2026 has been a truly remarkable month in the UK's climate record. She noted that both England and Wales have provisionally recorded their driest July on record, while Wales also recorded its joint warmest.
Dr Doherty added further records to the picture. According to her statement, southern England has seen its driest month ever recorded, and England and Wales have each experienced their sunniest month ever observed. She said the combination of record-breaking dryness, exceptional warmth and unprecedented sunshine has delivered one of the most notable summer months in the historical records.
The prolonged hot and dry spell has also placed strain on the health system. According to the report, the pressures on hospitals around the country have been significant, with some hospitals having to declare critical incidents. In some cases hospitals have been unable to carry out routine MRI checks, and appointments have been cancelled as a result of the conditions.
Taken together, the provisional records and the health alerts point to a summer month that has been unusual on several fronts at once. The lack of rain, the high temperatures and the extended sunshine have combined to shape both the climate statistics and the day-to-day pressures now being felt across parts of England and Wales, with the warnings urging people to take care while the hot weather persists.