--- title: Heat Alerts Cover Almost All of England as the Drought Reaches 45 Million People description: Amber heat-health alerts run across almost all of England from 11 to 14 August, with 71.3% of the country in drought after the driest July in 190 years. author: Dr Marina Nani (Editor-in-Chief) updated: 2026-08-11T05:21:18.946Z canonical: https://richhealthmagazine.com/article/england-drought-heat-health-alerts-august-2026 image: https://cdn.nanimediahouse.com/england-drought-heat-alerts-137142.webp categories: Everyday Wellness content_type: News region: England publication: Rich Health Magazine schema_type: Article --- Amber heat-health alerts came into force across almost every region of England at 9am on 11 August and run until 9pm on 14 August. They cover a country where 71.3% of England is now officially in drought, after the driest July in 190 years. The UK Health Security Agency has [amber alerts running](https://ukhsa-dashboard.data.gov.uk/weather-health-alerts/heat) in the East Midlands, the East of England, London, the North West, the South East, the South West, the West Midlands, and Yorkshire and The Humber, with a yellow alert in the North East. At amber level the agency expects significant impacts across health and social care. Its risk description names a rise in deaths, particularly among people aged 65 and over or with existing health conditions, and says younger age groups may be affected too. It also expects heavier demand on health and care services, indoor temperatures in hospitals and care homes going above the level at which a clinical risk assessment is recommended, problems managing medicines and staffing, and more water-related incidents, including cold-water shock and drowning. The alert is aimed at services rather than at households, but the group it names is the one worth checking on this week: older relatives and neighbours, and anyone already unwell. ## The May and June Heatwaves Are Estimated to Have Killed More Than 2,700 People Researchers at Imperial College London, the Met Office and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine put the toll of the two earlier heatwaves at more than 2,700 heat-related deaths in England and Wales, using historical mortality records and established peer-reviewed methods. About 550 of those came in the May heatwave, from 21 to 29 May, and about 2,200 in the June heatwave, from 18 to 28 June. They attribute about 42% of the deaths across both events to the extra heat caused by human-induced climate change, and put daytime maximum temperatures in England and Wales roughly 3 to 4C above where they would sit without it. May's national record fell when 35.1C was recorded in West London, and June brought three consecutive days of record temperatures that peaked above 37C in East Anglia. ## Four More Areas Moved Into Drought on 10 August The National Drought Group met that day and moved the East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Kent and East Sussex, and Solent and the South Downs into drought, taking the total to [45 million people living in a drought area](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-areas-in-england-declared-in-drought-after-record-dry-july). More than 27 million of them are already under restrictions on water use. The North East and Yorkshire moved to prolonged dry weather, the stage before drought, which leaves nowhere in England classed as normal. It is the third drought in five years, after 2022 and 2025. Officials call this a flash drought, one that develops quickly out of very low rainfall and high temperatures rather than building over a long dry spell. July rainfall ranged from 1% of the expected average in south-east England to 26% in the north west, and only 5% of the expected rainfall has fallen so far this month. Tony Grayling, the Environment Agency's strategic drought lead and chair of the National Drought Group, said the situation will keep worsening without a change in the weather. “Drought conditions are worsening and will continue to do so until we see significant and sustained rainfall,” he said. “We want everyone to stay safe and hydrated over the summer, but we need everyone's help in using a little less water to make sure our current water reserves last.” Water Minister Emma Hardy has told water companies to do more to cut leaks, which get worse in hot weather as pipes shift in drying soil. Rivers, reservoirs and groundwater are still falling, rising water temperatures are prompting more fish rescues, and the wildfire risk is climbing. ## FAQ **Q: What does an amber heat health alert mean?** It means the UK Health Security Agency judges that significant impacts on health and social care are likely, including a rise in deaths among people aged 65 and over or with existing health conditions, and heavier demand on hospitals, care homes and emergency services. The alerting season runs from 1 June to 30 September each year. **Q: How many people have died in England's heatwaves this year?** More than 2,700 heat-related deaths are estimated for England and Wales across the May and June heatwaves, according to researchers at Imperial College London, the Met Office and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The figure is a modelled estimate rather than a direct count. **Q: What is a flash drought?** One that develops very quickly, driven by very low rainfall combined with high temperatures, rather than building slowly over a long dry period. Officials have used the term for England's drought this summer. **Q: Why is England short of water this summer?** July was the driest in 190 years, with rainfall ranging from 1% of the expected average in the south east to 26% in the north west, and only 5% of expected rainfall has fallen so far in August. Rivers, reservoirs and groundwater have kept falling since.