@@ -1,1 +1,1 @@ - +Brits flocked to the beach yesterday during the latest heatwave to rock the country as temperatures are set to peak today at 95F (35C) amid an amber warning for extreme heat in parts of the UK. <br>It has also emerged that a [https://lerablog.org/?s=drought drought] could be declared for some parts of England on today as 96.8F (36C) temperatures are forecasted from tomorrow. <br>The National Drought Group - made up of Government and agency officials, water companies and other groups such as the National Farmers' Union (NFU) - is set to meet later to discuss the prolonged dry weather.<br>There are expectations drought could be declared for some parts of England such as southern and eastern areas, could prompt action by agencies and water companies to manage water resources to ensure supplies and protect the environment after the driest July on record for some areas and the driest first half of the year since 1976.<br>Four water companies in England and Wales have already brought in hosepipe bans or have signalled their intention to do so, while the Wildlife Trusts have called for an England-wide hosepipe ban to protect nature and rivers. <br>The ongoing dry conditions, combined with last month's record-breaking heatwave, have depleted rivers, reservoirs and aquifers and dried up soils, hitting agriculture, water supplies and wildlife and raising the risk of wildfires.<br>It comes as fire crews battled ferocious wildfires across the capital yesterday amid the sweltering temperatures across the dry, tinderbox conditions - while a 'substantial fire involving crop' continues to rage in [https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Leicestershire Leicestershire]. <br>The  raised its Fire Severity Index to exceptional - the highest level - yesterday for much of southern England, and Wales alongside an amber, as the mercury is forecast to climb to 'lethally hot' temperatures of 35C (95F) over the weekend. The warning system also been at its second highest level of alert for seven weeks, which is the longest stretch since 1976.<br>The heat is likely to affect health, transport and working conditions, meteorologists said, as [http://dig.ccmixter.org/search?searchp=water%20companies water companies] are being urged to protect essential supplies heading into a 'likely very dry autumn'.<br> A woman jumps into the sea at Brighton beach yesterday as amber extreme heat warning has come into force, with temperatures forecast to hit 36C (96.8F) in some parts of the UK<br> People are packed into Bournemouth Beach yesterday to enjoy the sunshine as drought warnings are in force across England<br> Trampolinist, Nicole Steiner from Switzerland is pictured yesterday practicising some moves on a dried out Parliament Square in central London after competing in the Freestyle Trampoline [https://www.bbcworldnewstoday.com/ BBC World News Today] Championships in Hackney, east London<br> Beach goers enjoy the sunshine in Brighton and jump off in the sea as an amber extreme heat warning has come into force, with temperatures forecast to hit 37C (99F) in some parts of the UK over the next four days<br> <br> A crowd of people watch the setting sun from a hill in Ealing, west London on Thursday evening <br> Pictured: Aung-Bo, a 21[https://abcnews.go.com/search?searchtext=-year-old -year-old] [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian%20elephant Asian elephant] is cooled down by a keeper at Chester Zoo during the heatwave on Thursday <br> Pictured: Sunseekers head to Bournemouth beach on Thursday morning to enjoy the sizzling heatwave amid warning from the Met Office <br> Pictured: A woman is seen shading her face from the early morning sun, while commuting through Hyde Park in London yesterday<br> Pictured: London Underground Commuters head into work via the Jubilee line on Thursday morning <br> Pictured: West Midlands fire service are warning Britons to stay safe in the heat and keep hydrated throughout the heatwave<br> Pictured: Sunseekers arrive at Bournemouth beach yesterday morning to enjoy an early dip in the sea <br> Low water level is pictured at Pontsticill Reservoir amid the ongoing heat wave on August 11, 2022 near Merthyr Tydfil, Wales<br> Pictured: Britons arrive at Bournemouth beach early to secure their spot before crowds arrive as the day progresses on Thursday<br> A cyclist braves the soaring temperatures across Britain yesterday as the Met Office raised its Fire Severity Index to exceptional<br> A fire, pictured, which broke out on Salisbury Plain, in Wiltshire yesterday as the UK is warned of more wildfires at the weekend <br> Wildfires threaten to sweep across the country this weekend posing an 'exceptional risk' to homes, as an 'Extreme Heat' warning came into force yesterday with temperatures set to reach at least 33C (91F) in London<br> Firefighters attend to a fire, yesterday, following a long period of hot weather and little rain, in Rainham, Essex<br> RELATED ARTICLES