The Met Office has raised the fire severity index (FSI), an assessment of how severe a fire could become if one were to start, is very high for most of England and Wales including the South West.

With the latest heatwave coming after months of low rain, and the driest July on record, the countryside and urban parks and gardens are now tinder-dry, so households are being urged not to light fires or have barbecues.

Temperatures are expected to climb and remain high in and around Radstock into the weekend with an amber alert the longest the Met Office has issued since it introduced the warning system in 2021. The highest temperature is predicted to be 32 degrees on Saturday. The very hot weather is predicted to break on Monday when they are also forecasting a little rain.

The FSI uses information such as wind speed, temperature, time of year and rainfall to produce a fire severity assessment. It is NOT a prediction of the probability of fires, but whether they could become well established and potentially out of control in a short space of time.

The longer range forecast from the Met Office from next Wednesday (August 24) is :

Following a period of unsettled weather, we may see some generally more settled conditions towards the end of August. Continuing into September, normal weather can be expected for this time of year. This may bring some spells of rain or showers, most likely in the north and west. However, periods of dry and sunny weather can be expected in between. Temperatures are likely to be above normal, with the chance for some very warm spells.