Hosepipe ban to start in days as UK heatwave likely with Brits facing 34C

Hosepipe ban to start in days amid UK heatwave with Brits facing scorching 34C Southern Water has issued a hosepipe pan from 12.01am on July 10 in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight A hosepipe ban has been announced for part of the UK as temperatures are expected to peak at a sweltering 34C with another heatwave likely. Southern Water has issued a hosepipe pan from 12.01am on Friday, July 10, in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. The Met Office said temperatures are forecast to rise to 29C on Sunday, then approach the low 30s next week before a peak of 34C on Thursday or Friday in the South East. It is expected to be a prolonged spell of hot weather in parts of the UK, but it will not be as hot and humid as last month's heatwave, the forecaster added. Southern Water says on its website that "the warmest spring on record, followed by a record-breaking heatwave, has left river levels 25% lower than expected for this time of year". It adds that the River Test has lost a third of its water within the last month, "putting pressure on our ability to treat and supply your water". Southern Water says: "To protect local rivers, including the River Test and Itchen that supply most of your water, and to keep taps flowing, we need to introduce restrictions. "We recognise that customers with medical needs may still need to use a hosepipe. Customers on our priority services register with medical or mobility needs, including blue badge holders and those on our WaterSure tariff, are exempt. Anything you can do to reduce or avoid hosepipe use would be greatly appreciated." A hosepipe ban stops customers using a hosepipe for non-essential activities, including: watering gardens, including using a sprinkler system; filling paddling pools, hot tubs, swimming pools, ponds or fountains; washing cars, patios or windows. Southern Water says the hosepipe ban will be removed "as soon as we can", adding "this can only happen when there’s enough water in our reservoirs, rivers and underground aquifers to meet demand". Met Office meteorologist Becky Mitchell said: "We have got a heatwave on the way across parts of southern England and Wales, temperatures are already quite high across the South East today, we could get 28C in London. "Elsewhere, it’s not as hot as we have got temperatures closer to average but they will climb as we go into next week. "The northern areas of the country will be cloudier with spells of rain at times, so there’s a north/south split. "There will be highs of 29C tomorrow in the south. At the start of next week we will see temperatures approach the low 30s. "The peak of the heat appears to be Thursday or Friday, 34C in the South East. By comparison to the heatwave we saw in June, this heatwave won’t be as hot and humid, but it will be a prolonged spell of hot weather which lasts around a week.” Yellow heat health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), covering the East Midlands, east, south-east and south-west of England, including London, and the West Midlands, from midday on Saturday until 8pm on July 11.