Andy Burnham is set to chair an emergency Cobra meeting as Britain continues to swelter under an intense heatwave that has triggered wildfires and pushed large parts of the country into drought conditions.
The Prime Minister will bring together ministers, senior officials and emergency agencies to coordinate the national response as temperatures show no sign of letting up. Wednesday is expected to hit 33C in places, with Thursday potentially reaching a scorching 38C.
The extreme heat has already stretched emergency services thin across England, with wildfires breaking out in several areas including the New Forest. Fire crews have been battling blazes for days as dry conditions and high winds create dangerous situations across the country.
Cobra, the government’s emergency committee, is typically reserved for the most serious national crises. Its activation signals just how seriously the government is treating this prolonged period of extreme weather, which has moved well beyond a simple summer heatwave into something far more disruptive.
Drought conditions are now affecting many parts of Britain following weeks of little to no rainfall combined with the relentless heat. Water companies are under pressure, farmers are reporting significant damage to crops, and health authorities have been urging people to stay indoors during the hottest parts of the day.
The NHS has been on high alert throughout the heatwave, with hospitals reporting increased admissions linked to heat-related illness. Elderly people, young children and those with underlying health conditions are considered most at risk, and health officials have been repeating warnings to check on vulnerable neighbours and relatives.
Wildfires have become an increasingly visible consequence of the extreme conditions. The blazes burning across parts of England have required significant resources to contain, pulling fire services away from other duties and raising serious questions about whether the country is properly equipped to deal with this kind of climate-driven emergency.
The Cobra meeting is expected to focus on coordinating resources between agencies, reviewing the current drought situation, and ensuring emergency services have what they need to respond to further incidents. There will also likely be discussion around public health messaging as the hottest days are still to come.
Climate experts have pointed out that summers like this one are becoming more frequent as a direct result of climate change. What was once considered an exceptional weather event is increasingly looking like the new normal for England, raising longer-term questions about infrastructure, water supply and public health preparedness.
For now though, the immediate priority is getting through the next few days safely. With Thursday’s forecast of 38C potentially breaking records, the pressure on Burnham and his team to have the right response in place has never been higher.