The Met Office today said the UK is on course to record its hottest summer ever as Brits were warned of 38C temperatures and extreme weather warnings were issued17:51, 11 Aug 2026Drought-hit Brits were today warned to brace themselves for a blistering 38C heatwave as health alerts kicked in and the UK looked set for its hottest summer on record.‌A spike in temperatures is anticipated as the Met Office issued an extreme heat warning, saying the "wider population is likely to experience some adverse health effects". The 15-hour amber warning covering all of England will begin at 9am on Thursday and was scheduled to last until midnight.‌Separately, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) today activated amber heat health alerts for much of England, which will run until Friday, warning of a "rise in deaths". The Government has urged people to stay safe by drinking plenty of water, checking on vulnerable friends and family, and avoiding the sun at the hottest part of the day.‌The scorching weather puts the UK on course for its hottest summer on record. Currently the mean average temperature stands at 16.48C between June 1 and August 10, which is 1.88C above the 1991-2020 average.Met Office senior scientist Mike Kendon said: "Another record-breaking summer now looks increasingly likely for the UK, following the second-warmest June, and second-warmest July on record and yet another heatwave imminent."‌Pointing to repeated occasions in which the UK experienced temperatures of 35C or more, Kendon added: "These statistics are a clear reminder - if one were needed - of the stark changes that we are seeing in the UK's climate."The record-breaking heatwave - the fifth of the year - has caused chaos across the UK, sparking raging wildfires, creating problems for farmers and driving rivers to record lows. The heat was so severe it exposed the remains of a lost village that was demolished and flooded to create a reservoir.‌Stonework and the outlines of buildings in Nether Hambleton were seen today because of the low water levels at Rutland Water reservoir in the east Midlands. More than 3,000 acres of land were submerged in the 1970s to create what was then Europe's largest man-made lake, with residents rehoused in the surrounding areas. Among the lost buildings were 18th century homes and farmland growing barley to be sold to Germany for brewing lager and wheat which Hovis bought for breadmaking.It came as the temperature are today thought to have topped 26C in London, 28C in Manchester and 28C in Cardiff, before the mercury is expected to soar in some areas to 34C tomorrow and 38C on Thursday. But meteorologists believe showers could move across the country on Sunday - bringing the first spattering of rain to southern areas in two months.Searing temperatures have seen almost three quarters of England - affecting 45 million people - experience "flash droughts", with 27million people slapped with hosepipe bans. In Wales almost the entirety of the country was in drought, with hosepipe bans imposed by Wales Water for more than 33,000 people.‌Met Office chief forecaster Chris Bulmer said: "While the peak heat will be more short-lived than recent heatwaves, temperatures widely into the mid-30Cs on Thursday bring the potential for impacts for some, which is why a Met Office warning has been issued."High pressure is now becoming dominant and temperatures will build day-by-day. Southerly and south-easterly winds will also tap into the hot conditions over Europe, which helps develop this further notable heat in what has been a hot and dry summer so far."‌Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster David Oliver said: “While Thursday will be the peak of the heat this week, some warmth will remain in the south and south east on Friday, before easing more widely on Saturday as cooler air spreads south from the north west.”Farmers are struggling to cope with the intense heat and experts warning it would drive up food and drink prices. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said "fruit, vegetable and grain supply" are being hit, with crop shortages set to feed into supermarket prices.Images show dry fields at Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. And people were seen walking on the exposed, cracked, and dried mud bed of Hollow Pond, near Wanstead, in east London.‌It came as firefighters continued to battle a series of fires across the UK, including one in the New Forest National Park, Hampshire. Emergency crews today began a third day of tackling tackling the blaze - that at one point covered an area equivalent to 140 football pitches - as they say they are "managing to contain" after working "tirelessly" through the night.The area hit by the blaze, which started after a van caught fire on the nearby A31 near Ringwood on Sunday, is protected heathland and home to a number of rare species, according to the New Forest National Park Authority.It came as the National Fire Chiefs Council said July was the busiest month on record for wildfires, with serbices responding to 966 wildfires this year, just shy of the 1,017 they attended during a record-breaking year in 2025. In July alone, firefighters attended 458 wildfires, whilst in the first 10 days of August crews have been called out to 185 wildfires.‌Phil Garrigan, chairman of the council, said: "The combination of drought conditions and another heatwave means the risk of fires remains high, and these incidents can place huge demands on firefighters and specialist resources. Many wildfires are preventable so we're asking people to be vigilant and take extra care outdoors while these conditions continue."It came as the Fire Brigades Union said its members were under increased pressure as a result of an "unprecedented summer of dangerous and volatile wildfires". Steve Wright, the FBU general secretary, said the unpredictable environmental challenges the UK was now confronted with meant it was a "national priority" to have enough properly equipped firefighters to "face these threats".He called for "increased funding, improved access to the best equipment and better national resilience" to combat rising demands. He said: "Our country is facing unpredictable environment.al challenges and it must be a national priority to ensure we have enough properly equipped firefighters to face these threats."‌Wright has previously said fire crews were stretched by staffing cuts - with 12,000 fewer firefighters in the UK than in 2010.William Spencer, climate and first aid expert at the British Red Cross, said: "While periods of hot weather have become more familiar in recent years, they can still pose serious risks to health. In fact, after prolonged dry and warm conditions, it is more important than ever to follow heat safety advice."Simple steps such as wearing sunscreen, drinking plenty of fluids, seeking shade during the hottest parts of the day and taking regular breaks from the sun can help protect you and those around you. It's also important to look out for the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, particularly among people who may be more vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat."Article continues belowThere are warnings older people are more at risk from the extreme heat, with Caroline Abrahams, Age UK's charity director, saying that as people age, their bodies find it harder to adapt to extremes of heat and cold.She said: "Even younger and otherwise healthy people can feel the effects of very hot weather, but with temperatures forecast to reach up to 36C in some areas, the risks can be much greater for older people."She urged people to check in on older neighbours, friends and relatives to see if they need support such as picking up the shopping or lending them a fan. She said: "The increasing frequency of heatwaves, alongside droughts, wildfires and hosepipe bans, shows how important it is that we do more to protect those most at risk as climate change continues to bring more extreme weather."