英国正经历今年第五次夏季热浪，气温预计将达到38°C[1]，气象局因此发布琥珀色极端高温预警[1]。气象官员Chris Bulmer解释称，"周四气温广泛达到30多摄氏度中期带来某些影响的可能性，这就是为什么发布了气象局预警"[1]。面对持续高温带来的多重灾害，英国政府已召集紧急Cobra会议应对，这是2023年政府因热浪召集此类会议的第二次[1]。
极端高温已在全国范围内引发严重后果。消防部门仅在8月前10天就应对185次野火，今年迄今已累计应对966次[1]。英格兰近四分之三地区和威尔士全部处于干旱状态[1]，水资源短缺问题日益紧迫，Southern Water已申请干旱令禁止非必要用水，这是自2006年5月以来首次实施此类禁令[1]。火旅联盟总干事Steve Wright用"现在就是国家紧急状态"来形容当前局面[1]。政府发言人承认压力之大，表示"我们知道这个夏天有多具有挑战性，特别是对于应对野火的消防员、在干旱条件下工作的农民和繁忙的NHS A&E部门的工作人员"[1]。
The United Kingdom is experiencing its fifth summer heatwave of 2023, with temperatures predicted to reach 38°C, prompting the Met Office to issue an amber extreme heat warning [1]. The prolonged high temperatures have triggered widespread wildfires and drought conditions across the nation, with the fire service having responded to 966 blazes so far this year, including 185 incidents in the first ten days of August alone [1]. In response to the escalating crisis, the government has convened an emergency Cobra meeting—the second such gathering this summer to address heat-related emergencies [1].
The environmental impact extends across multiple sectors, with approximately three-quarters of England and the entire country of Wales now classified as being in a state of drought [1]. Southern Water has requested a drought order to prohibit non-essential water use, marking the first such restriction since May 2006 [1]. Steve Wright, chief executive of the Fire Brigades Union, characterized the situation as a "national emergency happening right now" [1]. A government spokesperson acknowledged the severity, stating: "We know how challenging this summer has been, particularly for firefighters dealing with wildfires, farmers working in drought conditions and hard-pressed NHS A&E staff" [1]. Met Office meteorologist Chris Bulmer explained the reasoning behind the warning, noting that "temperatures are widely expected to reach the mid-30s Celsius on Thursday with the potential for certain impacts, which is why the Met Office alert was issued" [1].