UK records driest July in parts of southern England as heat deaths rise

Southern England has recorded its driest July since records began, with no substantial rainfall expected for the foreseeable future. The Met Office confirmed the lack of significant showers in the South East, following a month of extreme dryness and repeated heatwaves.

The summer of 2026 has already seen two record-breaking heatwaves in May and June, which the Met Office linked to over 2,800 excess deaths. July brought two further heatwaves, exacerbating drought conditions and increasing the risk of wildfires across the region.

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Asda became the latest supermarket to withdraw disposable barbecues from sale on 29 July. The decision followed warnings from fire services about the heightened risk of wildfires during the ongoing dry spell. Other major retailers had already taken similar steps earlier in the month.

Firefighters have responded to multiple blazes in recent weeks, including a significant wildfire in Dunwich, Suffolk. The Met Office warned that the dry conditions are likely to persist, with rainfall totals for the second half of August expected to remain below average.

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“It's looking pretty dry. Even for the second half of the month, it is suggested that rainfall totals are more likely to be below normal than above.”

Marco Petagna, Met Office meteorologist

Thunderstorms forecast for Scotland

While southern England faces prolonged dryness, a yellow warning for thunderstorms has been issued for north-east Scotland. The warning is in effect from 10:00 to 21:00 on 31 July, covering areas including Aberdeen and Inverness.

Temperatures across the UK are expected to drop closer to seasonal averages on 31 July, following a spike earlier in the week. However, the Met Office recorded 32°C or higher on 21 days in 2026, surpassing the previous record of 19 days set in 1995.

What happens next

The Met Office forecasts that the South East will remain dry for the rest of August, with below-average rainfall likely. Further spells of hot weather are also possible, increasing the risk of wildfires and drought conditions.

Residents in north-east Scotland should prepare for thunderstorms on 31 July, while the rest of the UK can expect temperatures to return to near-average levels by the end of the week.