Parts of the United Kingdom are at an “exceptional” risk of wildfires as the ongoing heatwave persists, according to experts. Natural England identifies southern England and the Midlands as the areas with the highest risk, using its fire severity index. The index indicates that the area of “exceptional” risk is expected to expand, spreading toward the South East and parts of eastern England by midweek. Over the same period, much of the rest of England and Wales is assessed as having “very high” wildfire risk, though not at the most severe level. The warnings reflect continued hot, dry conditions associated with the heatwave, which increase the likelihood of fires and make them more difficult to control. Local authorities and relevant agencies are expected to monitor conditions closely and apply wildfire prevention measures while the risk levels remain elevated. The situation is subject to change as weather conditions evolve day to day.