Cooler conditions on way for parts of UK - but still no rain for drought-hit areas
Parts of the UK are expecting cooler temperatures and some rain after a period of extreme heat. Despite this, much of England and Wales remains in an official state of drought, with ongoing water restrictions and environmental concerns.
Why it matters
The persistent drought conditions highlight the growing impact of climate change on water security and infrastructure in the UK.
Image source, Getty Images/Anadolu Image caption, Temperatures reached the mid-30s Celsius in the hottest areas on Wednesday
Cooler conditions and some rain are on the way for parts of UK on Thursday into the weekend, as a cold front moves into the UK.
However, with more than half of England and parts of Wales officially in drought , the coming days are unlikely to bring any rain to the driest areas of the country.
The latest UK heatwave peaked on Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 35.2C at Writtle in Essex. It was the hottest day for more than two weeks, when 35.2C was also recorded in Cotton in the Elms, Derbyshire, on 10 July.
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