Cobra Meeting Called as Heatwave and Drought Grip England
Andy Burnham is to chair an emergency Cobra meeting today as the country braces for temperatures of 38C and forecasters say the summer of 2026 is on course to be the UK’s hottest on record. More than two-thirds of England is now officially in drought, water companies are extending restrictions, and firefighters are still tackling a blaze in the New Forest. One analysis estimates the summer’s heat has already cost the economy billions in lost output.
The decision to convene Cobra signals the government now treats the heat and drought as a national emergency rather than a seasonal nuisance, with amber health alerts covering much of the country and hospitals braced for a rise in heat-related illness. Around ten thousand homes across London and Essex are reported to face water shortages, and utilities have signalled tighter curbs on hosepipes, car washes and pools. Farmers warn of damaged harvests and higher food prices, while a Guardian analysis puts the cost of this year’s heatwaves at some 4.4 billion pounds in lost output. Scientists link the intensifying dry spells to a warming climate. Watch what emergency measures emerge from the meeting and whether the forecast peak is breached.