Cooler conditions and scattered rain are anticipated for some UK regions from Thursday into the weekend as a cold front traverses the country. However, these incoming weather patterns are unlikely to bring drought relief to the most parched areas of England and Wales, where drought has been officially declared.

The latest heatwave saw temperatures peak on Wednesday, reaching 35.2C in Writtle, Essex, and Cotton in the Elms, Derbyshire. While hot, these temperatures did not match the record highs of last month, which included a new provisional UK June record of 38.0C set on June 26th.

Drought was officially declared across more than half of England on Wednesday, impacting over 20 million people who are already subject to hosepipe bans. Natural Resources Wales also reported that North Wales and the Upper Severn river basin have entered drought conditions. The Environment Agency noted that the prolonged dry spell has led to low river flows, early harvests, and an increased risk of wildfires.

Experts suggest that the current heatwave may narrowly miss official definitions in many areas due to temperature fluctuations. While Tuesday and Wednesday were hot, a cold front moving in on Thursday is expected to drop temperatures below the heatwave threshold for much of the country. However, East Anglia and south-east England may still experience high temperatures for an additional day.

Looking ahead, temperatures in central and eastern England are forecast to remain in the mid-20s through Friday and the weekend, still feeling warm in sunny spells. Sunday could see a slight increase again into the high 20s. In contrast, the north-west of the UK is expected to experience cooler, below-average temperatures.

Scotland, while not officially declaring drought, is monitoring water scarcity, with some eastern parts facing significant scarcity. Northern Ireland is not currently experiencing drought conditions.

The ongoing dry weather has visibly impacted waterways, with images showing low water levels in canals, such as the Grand Union Canal in Warwickshire, leading to issues like algae growth.

Further impacts of the drought are anticipated, with the potential for additional restrictions on water use as the Environment Agency continues to monitor the situation across the affected regions.