Warning issued as fire crews called to more than 500 wildfires in 2025 so far

As of Thursday, 564 wildfire incidents have been responded to by English and Welsh fire and rescue services so far this year, which is a 717% increase on the same period in 2024, and more than double the number seen in 2022 which went on to be the worst year on record for wildfires, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said.
The NFCC is now urging caution among members of the public when enjoying the outdoors in a bid to prevent further spikes in incidents.
It comes after the UK broke its record for the warmest day of the year twice on the same day, with the temperature reaching as high as 32.2C on Thursday.
And it is expected to get hotter yet, as the highest temperatures this week are forecast for Saturday, with low 30s fairly widely across England, and up to 34C possible in eastern areas, the Met Office said.
As the drier weather continues and temperatures rise, there are also concerns that the UK will see more wildfires in areas where homes and businesses border rural areas, the NFCC added.
The public is also being urged to take care when in, on or around water.
NFCC chairman Phil Garrigan said: 'We are deeply concerned about the escalating threat of wildfires this summer, which have the potential to become more frequent, intense and dangerous – particularly in areas where communities border the countryside.
'We all need to play our part in protecting each other, our environment and our homes and businesses.
'We want everyone to enjoy the nice weather, we are just asking that they take extra care when out and about because it only takes one small error to lead to a significant wildfire.
'Fire and rescue services are already under significant pressure, having responded to hundreds of wildfires this year alone.
'We are incredibly proud of the unwavering commitment and preparedness of our fire and rescue services.
'However, wildfires are no longer rare or isolated incidents – they are a growing national risk that require a national-level response.
'Without more adequate and sustained funding, fire and rescue services will continue to be stretched to the limit.'
Public safety advice issued by the NFCC includes avoiding the use of disposable barbecues in open countryside, parks, and moorland areas and not discarding cigarettes, matches, or glass bottles, as they can ignite dry vegetation.
With drier conditions during this time of year meaning that fires can burn into peat, and can burn for longer, it is likely some fires will take a number of days – rather than hours – to extinguish, causing more damage and placing further pressure on fire and rescue services, the NFCC added.
Across July 18 and 19 in 2022, the hottest days of that year, 84 wildfires were recorded, and 14 fire and rescue services declared major incidents, nine of which were linked to difficulties in responding due to the increase in operational demand, the NFCC said.

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Daily Mail​

23 minutes ago

• Daily Mail​

Last rays of summer feared as British families make the most of the sun as temperatures start falling from 33.2C high of Saturday

The last rays of summer may well now have shone as British families make the most of the sun as temperatures start falling from Saturday's 33.2C high. The nation has had to hold on to its hats today as 'fresher' and 'breezy' conditions swept in after the hottest day of the year so far came yesterday. The record-breaking high was measured in the village of Charlwood in Surrey - meaning Brits there enjoyed sun hotter than in both Tenerife and Ibiza. The popular holiday destinations saw comparatively measly 28C and 30C peaks respectively yesterday, according to available Met Office data. But the mercury has not hit quite such sizzling highs, with still pleasant top temperatures of 28C predicted, for lucky sun-chasers in the south east. The cooler temperatures come after thunderstorms swept across parts of the country overnight, including north England and south-east Scotland. Some areas saw up to 25mm of rain in just one hour - with Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumberland among the wettest places, sodden by 31.1mm of rainfall overnight. Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna said today: 'It's not as warm as yesterday but [temperatures are] still well above where they should be in the south east. 'Elsewhere, there's a fresher feel, quite breezy as well so most places, high teens, low 20s for temperatures.' Consider shutting those open windows this evening too as showers are set to hit again, even in the balmy south east potentially. He continued: 'It could turn a bit chilly in Scotland, down to three or four degrees in some rural spots.' But never fear, summer lovers: 'For most places, temperatures, certainly towns and cities, generally holding up in double figures. 'But a fresher feel compared to what we've had recent nights.' As the new week begins, the sun will again beat down most on the south east tomorrow, as the region enjoys highs of up to 25C. Elsewhere, temperatures will be around the high teens and low 20s - no cause for concern and actually 'near-average' for the time of year, Mr Petagna added. Into later next week, conditions again look 'changeable', with 'most areas' seeing rain at points. The south east will again be very warm around Tuesday and Wednesday, with the mercury possibly hitting the high twenties. But as the heat builds, that could equally lead to some thundery downpours - so keep both the beach parasol and the brolly close at hand. It comes after experts shockingly predicted around 570 people could die due to the heat from Thursday to Sunday this week gone. Researchers the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Imperial College London used decades of UK data to predict excess mortality during the hot temperatures over the four days. The excess deaths were estimated to peak at 266 yesterday when the heat will be at its most intense, according to the study. London was predicted to have the greatest number of excess deaths at 129. It highlights how extreme heat poses a growing threat to public health in the UK, the experts said. Yesterday, Britain was as hot as the likes of Barbados and Corfu - and was actually hotter than Barcelona and Lisbon. But forecasters at the Met Office warned much of the UK would be soaked as soon as 5pm yesterday evening as the humid aftermath of the heatwave looked set to result in a downpour. This week has already seen thermometers surpass 30C across much of the UK, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all recording their warmest days of the year on Friday. That blistering heat intensified yesterday, which was the official end of spring, an occasion which was marked at Stonehenge yesterday morning. Thousands of people watched the sunrise over the monument to celebrate the summer solstice. Those who gathered for the spectacle in Wiltshire braved a warm start to the morning as they marked the year's longest day. Temperatures in Salisbury and Greater London reached 18C by 5am. The Met Office confirmed Yeovilton in Somerset and Crosby in Merseyside recorded the highest overnight temperatures in England, both reaching 19.7C by 6am on yesterday. Towns in Cumbria and Lancashire also recorded temperatures above 19C. An amber heat-health alert for all regions in England remains in place until tomorrow - but a warning for thunder has also been issued. Spanning the north Midlands to Northumberland, including north-east Wales, downpours, hail, lightning and gusty winds were predicted from 5pm yesterday until the early hours of today. The Met Office warned of 'sudden flooding' which could see communities 'cut off', transport disruption and power cuts. It follows a World Weather Attribution (WWA) research group study published on Friday which found the heatwave has been made around 100 times more likely and 2-4C hotter due to climate change. Dr Garyfallos Konstantinoudis, lecturer at the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London, said: 'Heatwaves are silent killers - people who lose their lives in them typically have pre-existing health conditions and rarely have heat listed as a contributing cause of death. 'This real-time analysis reveals the hidden toll of heatwaves and we want it to help raise the alarm. 'Heatwaves are an underappreciated threat in the UK and they're becoming more dangerous with climate change.' An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. The Met Office confirmed 'many places' in England and 'one or two areas' in Wales, including Cardiff, entered a heatwave on Friday. There were also very high UV and pollen levels across the country yesterday, the forecaster said. The amber heat-health alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the first time since September 2023, is in force until 9am tomorrow. It warns 'significant impacts are likely' across health and social care services because of high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or people with health conditions. Following the hot weather, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) urged the public to take heat and water safety seriously. During 2022's heatwave, temperatures rose past 40C, leading to 320 people being treated in hospital. Steve Cole, policy director at RoSPA, said: 'Heat is no longer just a holiday perk - it's a growing public health risk. 'We're seeing more frequent and intense heatwaves, both in the UK and globally, and the data shows a clear rise in heat-related illness and fatalities. Dog walkers enjoy the sun at Greenwich Park in front of the National Maritime Museum with the Canary Wharf financial district in the distance in London today 'Warm weather can also be deceptive when it comes to going for a dip. 'While the air may feel hot, water temperatures often remain dangerously cold, which can lead to cold-water shock, even in summer.' The warnings proved all too prescient yesterday as terrified passengers had to be freed from stuck Thameslink trains by transport police, forced to walk on the tracks to safety in sizzling heat. Enraged customers travelling on the London services said they felt like they were being 'slow cooked' in 'an oven' as the services came to a halt with no air conditioning or ventilation. Three trains were stopped due to faults and image showed one service heading south through London being evacuated on what was the hottest day of the year so far. One commuter wrote on social media: '[Thameslink] you will have hell to pay. We've been stuck on this hot and humid train for over an hour. 'The doors were closed because we were told we may be moving. That was 15 minutes ago. It's like an oven in here and we're being slow cooked.' The operator confirmed on a social media post their services were facing issues and has since apologised to passengers affected. Enraged customers travelling on the London services said they felt like they were being 'slow cooked' in 'an oven' They first posted: 'Due to a fault on a train between London Blackfriars and Herne Hill, some lines are blocked. 'We're working to gather more information on this incident.' They later added 'services across the network' were 'experiencing significant disruption'. Another passenger said they had been stuck on a 'rammed' service to Brighton between Elephant and Castle and Loughborough Junction which was a medical accident 'waiting to happen'. They also asked why there was 'no air con' or windows that could be opened on the service. In their instructions to stuck passengers, Thameslink posted on X that anyone stuck should not attempt to leave the train. They said: 'If you're stuck on a train which isn't moving, please remain where you are and don't make any attempt to leave the train unless instructed to.' Thameslink also replied to a post from a passenger who said he was stuck on a service between Blackfriars and East Croydon which had been 'over an hour with no AC'. Their reply read: 'Network Rail staff and emergency services are enroute to each train stuck between stations to evacuate and work on getting these moving.' A Thameslink spokesperson told MailOnline they were 'truly sorry' to the passengers affected. They said: 'Earlier today, a fault on a train near Loughborough Junction brought all services to a halt in the area, three of them outside station platforms. 'Without power and air conditioning on such a hot day, we pulled all resources from across Sussex and Kent to get personnel on site to safely evacuate passengers as quickly as possible along the track. 'This would have been a difficult and uncomfortable experience for our passengers and we are truly sorry. With safety our top priority, the safest place was to remain on the trains while we worked our hardest to get help to those on board. 'There is engineering work taking place today, which means this is the only route Thameslink trains can take south out of London and severe disruption is expected for the rest of the afternoon. 'Anyone travelling south of London is currently advised to use Southern services from Victoria but you should check the latest travel advice at 'Passengers delayed by 15 minutes or more are also entitled to compensation, with details on our website.' A British Transport Police spokesperson added: 'Officers were called to Loughborough Junction Railway Station at just before 11am today (June 21) to reports of a train broken down nearby.

Wales Online

an hour ago

• Wales Online

Glastonbury 2025 weather forecast update as Met Office and BBC give rain predictions

Glastonbury 2025 weather forecast update as Met Office and BBC give rain predictions lt's worth packing for a bit of everything if you're attending the festival One BBC weather forecaster has some good advice for festival goers (Image: AFP/Getty ) With Glastonbury just around the corner (25–29 June), plenty of festivalgoers will be wondering what the weather has in store. While the forecast is not detailed, we do have an idea of what things are shaping up to look like in the days leading up to the event and an idea of the long range weather forecast predicted for the UK afterwards. The festival starts on Wednesday, but the majority but that is the day that could see the wettest weather, and there could even be some thunderstorms around but it is hopefully better news after that. ‌ Lead BBC weather presenter Darren Bett says: "Warm and muggy air from the Bay of Biscay could combine with a band of rain coming in from the Atlantic to bring heavy rain and thunderstorms into the evening. At the moment it is a risk. It is possible that the storms could be further east and the rain won't amount to much. ‌ "The good news is that after Wednesday night it should be dry." The forecast for Friday, June 27, is looking fairly mild and mostly dry, with highs of around 23°C according to the Met Office. There may be a bit of drizzle first thing, but that should clear by late morning. From there, it stays mostly cloudy with the chance of a few light showers around lunchtime. The risk of rain is highest mid-morning, sitting at about 50%, but drops off quite a bit later in the day. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Article continues below Saturday, June 28, brings similar conditions as it will still be warm, again peaking at about 23°C, and a fairly grey start. There's a low to moderate chance of showers through the morning and early afternoon (around 30%), but things should brighten up later, with some sunny spells expected in the evening. So far it's not looking like a mudbath, but it is Glasto, so it's still worth packing for a bit of everything if you're attending the festival. ‌ Darren Bett offers some good advice: "The best advice is to consider packing your sun cream and wellies." Looking ahead at the long range weather forecast for the UK from Thursday 26 June - Saturday 5 July, a Met Office spokesperson also says: 'Rather changeable conditions are anticipated through this period, as a series of Atlantic low pressure systems pass largely to the northwest of the UK. 'These will tend to bring some occasional rain or showers, most frequent in northwestern areas where it may also be rather breezy or windy at times. ‌ 'Whilst some rain or showers will be possible farther south and east, here longer drier spells are more likely, under the influence of higher pressure. 'There is also the chance of some occasional very warm weather, as south or southwesterly winds allow brief bursts of hotter air to encroach from the continent, but probably fairly short-lived and perhaps also accompanied by a few thunderstorms at times.' All in all, it sounds like a light rain jacket, some sturdy boots are in order if you're travelling to the festival, and maybe a bit of sun cream wouldn't go amiss as we all know how much the British weather loves to surprise us at this time of year. Article continues below

Glasgow Times

3 hours ago

• Glasgow Times

What is the weather forecast for Glasgow next week?

The Met Office has forecast spells of rain with highs of 19 to 20 degrees from Monday, June 23 to Saturday, June 28. Monday, June 23 On Monday, there will be light showers changing to overcast in the afternoon. Temperatures will sit between 13 degrees and 17 degrees. Tuesday, June 24 Tuesday will bring light rain, again changing to overcast in the afternoon. Temperatures will vary from 12 degrees to 17 degrees. READ NEXT: I tried Glasgow's newest food and drink tour - my verdict Wednesday, June 25 On Wednesday, the mercury will climb slightly with highs of 20 degrees. Glaswegians can expect overcast changing to light rain by early evening. Thursday, June 26 Thursday will again see light showers changing to cloudy by late morning. There will be highs of 20 degrees and lows of 13 degrees. Friday, June 27 On Friday, things will dry up a bit with light showers changing to cloudy by early evening. Temperatures will range from 13 degrees to 19 degrees. READ NEXT: 'Local legend' Glasgow road sweeper retires after 43 years Saturday, June 28 Finally, on Saturday, the city will experience some sunshine with light showers forecast to change to sunny intervals in the afternoon. There will be highs of 19 degrees and lows of 12 degrees. It comes after Glasgow was as hot as Ibiza on Friday, June 20, with the mercury climbing to 26 degrees during the early evening. People flocked to the city to soak up the sunshine with many spotted sunbathing in popular spots including the Botanic Gardens in the West End. For the latest forecast, visit the Met Office's website HERE.