LONDON, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The warm and dry conditions, coupled with freshening winds, will result in extreme wildfire conditions for many parts of England and Wales over the next few days, Britain's Met Office said Friday.
The Met Office said Britain is experiencing a new round of heatwaves in 2026, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius in parts of England and Wales through the weekend and into next week. Friday was forecast to see 33 to 35 degrees Celsius in some parts of central and western England and Wales.
It is the first year in Britain's weather record to see temperatures reach 35 degrees Celsius or higher in May, June and July, said Met Office Science Manager Dr. Amy Doherty.
"When the weather stays hot and dry, it only takes one spark to start a wildfire. What can begin as a small fire can spread incredibly quickly, putting people, homes, wildlife and our countryside at risk," said a spokesperson from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).
Britain's wildfire risk is "highly concerning" right now. All this means that "heatwave conditions today and over the weekend pose considerable fire risk to crops and our semi-natural landscapes - particularly heathlands, moorlands and grasslands", said Professor Claire Belcher, University of Exeter's Chair of Wildland Fire and Director of the wildFIRE Lab.
"Communities should be urged to be particularly careful with ignition sources," Belcher added. ■