The West Country is bracing itself for another sweltering weekend as forecasters warn that a brief respite from the heat will do little to ease the region's drought crisis. A yellow heat health alert remains in place until Sunday morning, highlighting the continued risk to vulnerable individuals and social care services.
With its driest spring in over half a century, the West of England is paying the price for three consecutive heatwaves that have left gardens parched and water reservoirs critically low. BBC Meteorologist John Hammond cautions that long-range forecasts hint at more showers in late July and August but notes these signals are "weak and unreliable." Some areas could soon experience nearly 20 consecutive days of heatwave temperatures, with Met Office thresholds being 26C for Somerset and 27C for Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
Although the high-pressure system is expected to weaken briefly, allowing for some rainfall, Hammond stresses that a "consistent spell of cooler, wetter weather" is urgently needed. He says even the predicted rain – less than a handful of millimetres – will be insufficient after weeks without significant precipitation.
The effects of the prolonged heat are being felt across the region. Sol Harmsworth, manager of the Heart of BS13 Flower Farm in Bristol, has lost two beds of major cash crops due to the extreme humidity and lack of aeration "choking" his plants. Cheltenham Borough Council is encouraging residents to water trees, particularly young ones, as senior trees officer Chris Chevasse notes that many are "struggling to establish and continue to grow," with older trees at risk of decline and death.
Water levels remain a pressing concern. The Environment Agency has declared "prolonged dry weather" in parts of the country, a stage preceding an official drought declaration. National reservoir storage is 5% below the long-term average, with Wimbleball and Blagdon in Somerset categorised as "exceptionally low." Groundwater levels in areas like the Cotswolds and Wessex Downs are also notably low.