Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    Water restrictions active - Wildfires break out amid ongoing drought

12:30
14 July 2026

Water restrictions active
Wildfires break out amid ongoing drought

Smoke rising from a scorched moorland hillside after a wildfire, with blackened vegetation, smouldering ground, and drifting gray smoke covering the burned landscape.
Smoke rises from a moorland fire near Dovestone Reservoir in Saddleworth. - © picture alliance / Anadolu | Ioannis Alexopoulos

Wildfires are being tackled across the UK as the spell of dry, hot weather continues and drought builds.

Two major incidents have been declared, in North Wales and Derbyshire, with 19 separate active wildfires being tackled as of Tuesday amid ongoing drought.

While a wet winter helped fuel reservoir stocks, a summer with only 10 days of rain has seen levels deplete quickly, particularly in the south and east of England.

To cope with the rainfall deficit, restrictions on hosepipe usage are being introduced.

Water companies Anglian Water, Affinity Water, South East Water, Southern Water, and Cambridge Water have all brought in bans on use. Others, including some serving London, are currently advising customers to limit use.

Another record falls

During the infamous 1976 heatwave, 14 days saw temperatures pass 30°C. As of Sunday, 2026 has passed this with 15 days.

Meanwhile, hosepipe bans have already been issued across much of eastern Ireland with expectations of being expanded nationwide.

The current outlook shows only small showers and isolated thunderstorms, neither will help with the drought conditions as summer rolls on.

London

Th
14
19
Fr
16
22
Sa
13
22
Su
17
22
Mo
19
24
Tu
15
22
We
14
22
Th
14
21
Fr
14
22
Sa
15
23
Su
15
23
Mo
15
24
Tu
15
23
We
15
24
Max (°C)
Min (°C)
moreless

Manchester

Th
8
16
Fr
14
17
Sa
9
18
Su
16
19
Mo
15
22
Tu
14
18
We
11
18
Th
11
18
Fr
12
18
Sa
12
19
Su
12
19
Mo
13
20
Tu
12
19
We
13
20
Max (°C)
Min (°C)
moreless

Birmingham

Th
9
17
Fr
13
20
Sa
9
21
Su
16
23
Mo
18
23
Tu
15
24
We
11
19
Th
10
18
Fr
12
20
Sa
11
20
Su
12
20
Mo
12
20
Tu
12
20
We
13
22
Max (°C)
Min (°C)
moreless

Edinburgh

Th
9
17
Fr
12
17
Sa
12
20
Su
14
17
Mo
13
19
Tu
13
17
We
11
17
Th
12
17
Fr
12
16
Sa
12
18
Su
10
17
Mo
12
18
Tu
12
18
We
12
19
Max (°C)
Min (°C)
moreless

Cardiff

Th
9
18
Fr
14
20
Sa
10
19
Su
17
20
Mo
18
23
Tu
15
19
We
13
20
Th
13
19
Fr
13
19
Sa
13
20
Su
14
21
Mo
14
21
Tu
14
21
We
15
22
Max (°C)
Min (°C)
moreless
Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
A marked change in the weather. Cold front heading south. . . Monday, 7 September 2026
Map of Europe showing a cold front stretching from Scandinavia to Spain. Thunderstorms are shown in southern and central Europe.
Monday, 7 September 2026

Cold front heading south

A marked change in the weather
Hurricane Lowell threatens Hawaii. Gales and flash floods. . . Tuesday, 8 September 2026
WindRadar showing Hurricane Lowell north-west of Hawaii and its well-defined storm centre.
Tuesday, 8 September 2026

Gales and flash floods

Hurricane Lowell threatens Hawaii
Cheshire Gap produces shower funnel. Local phenomenon. . . Wednesday, 9 September 2026
Weather map showing showers moving southeast from Liverpool toward Birmingham, driven by Cheshire Gap convergence across central England.
Wednesday, 9 September 2026

Local phenomenon

Cheshire Gap produces shower funnel
All weather news
This might also interest you
Seasonal warmth between spring thunder. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 19 April 2026
Split image showing coastal sunset with layered lenticular clouds over rooftops and palm trees on the left, and a green valley with river and hills under soft daylight on the right.
Sunday, 19 April 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Seasonal warmth between spring thunder
Super Typhoon Bavi threatens Taiwan. Up to 1,000 mm of rain. . . Wednesday, 8 July 2026
The image shows an intense tropical cyclone over the western Pacific, east of Taiwan and the Philippines. The centre of the system is depicted as a light purple and white vortex with a clearly visible eye, surrounded by a ring of red and orange areas indicating the strongest wind speeds. A white arrow marks the typhoon’s predicted track towards the north-west, in the direction of Taiwan. To the west of the storm lie the Philippines, with the cities of Manila and Cebu; to the north of these lies Taiwan, with Taipei. Further west, the Chinese coast, including Hong Kong, and parts of Vietnam can be seen. The coloured wind map shows predominantly green areas outside the storm’s core, indicating significantly weaker winds. White streamlines illustrate the typhoon’s anti-clockwise circulation in the Northern Hemisphere. The highest wind speeds are concentrated around the eye of the cyclone.
Wednesday, 8 July 2026

Up to 1,000 mm of rain

Super Typhoon Bavi threatens Taiwan
A stormy week in the skies above. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 30 August 2026
Split image showing lightning branching beneath dark storm clouds above rooftops on the left and an orange-pink sunset over a calm sea on the right.
Sunday, 30 August 2026

Your weather - Your shots

A stormy week in the skies above
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList