Emergency Cobra Meeting Called Amid Extreme Heat and Widespread Drought
Met Office issues rare amber warnings as temperatures are set to soar, exacerbating water shortages and wildfire risks across the nation.
Callum Smith
The prime minister will chair an emergency Cobra committee meeting today in response to extreme heat, wildfires, and drought.
Chris Bulmer noted the potential for significant impacts, stating that while the peak heat will be more short-lived than recent heatwaves, temperatures widely into the mid-30s Celsius on Thursday bring the potential for impacts for some.
Bulmer added that high pressure is becoming dominant, with temperatures building daily as southerly and south-easterly winds tap into hot conditions over Europe.
Nearly three-quarters of England and the whole of Wales currently endure drought conditions. Southern Water has applied for a rare non-domestic drought order, which would ban businesses from non-essential water use in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The utility claims an “exceptional” shortage of rain in the South East.
Southern Water further claims that 165,000 people in the Southampton West supply area could “soon be significantly affected” by a restricted water supply.
Separately, burst pipes have left thousands of properties across London and Essex without water or experiencing low pressure, according to Thames Water.
The Environment Agency will also be present at the Cobra meeting.
A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed the prime minister's involvement, stating that the prime minister will chair a meeting of COBR – the government emergency committee – this afternoon on the UK’s ongoing response to extreme heat, wildfires and drought.
Firefighters have responded to 966 wildfires across England and Wales this year, with July reportedly being the busiest month on record for wildfires.
The Government has announced £97 million in new funding to upgrade national firefighting capabilities.
The UK faces a national emergency right now with fires across the country.
Steve Wright, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), claims the UK faces a national emergency “right now” with fires across the country.
A union chief also claims the nation faces a national emergency amid ongoing wildfires. Record-breaking heatwaves in May and June reportedly led to the deaths of more than 2,800 people.
A Downing Street spokesperson acknowledged the challenges, stating that they know how challenging this summer is proving, particularly for firefighters tackling wildfires, farmers working in drought conditions, and NHS staff in busy A+E units.
The spokesperson affirmed the government's commitment, adding that they will continue to take the action needed to keep communities safe, protect water supplies and safeguard the environment.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski claims that concrete action is urgently needed, including taxing fossil fuel giants to pay for firefighting helicopters, a cool space in every community, and a maximum working temperature.
Pippa Heylings indicated that Emergency meetings alone will not put out fires or protect communities. We need a national strategy to make the UK climate-ready. Extreme weather warnings, widespread water shortages, and raging wildfires are gripping the country, yet the Government is moving at a snail’s pace, waiting until the fifth heatwave this summer to act.
Lib Dem environment spokesperson Pippa Heylings claims that emergency meetings alone will not put out fires or protect communities, urging a national strategy to make the UK climate-ready.
Heylings further claims that extreme weather warnings, widespread water shortages, and raging wildfires are gripping the country, yet the Government is moving at a snail’s pace, waiting until the fifth heatwave this summer to act.