The 2018 Britain and Ireland heatwave was a period of unusually hot weather that took place in June, July and August.

These wildfires worst affected northern moorland areas around the Greater Manchester region, the largest was at Saddleworth Moor and another was at Winter Hill, together these burned over 14 square miles (36 km2) of land over a period of nearly a month.

St James's Park in London recorded the country's hottest April day in nearly 70 years when temperatures reached 28.1 °C (82.6 °F).

It sparked violent thunderstorms leading to flash flooding, giving some parts of the country their first measurable precipitation during May.

May and early June had been much warmer and drier than average, the latter being the driest since 1925[11] due to a persistently strong Azores High.

This high-pressure block prevented Atlantic low-pressure weather systems from reaching the British Isles.

[20] On 5 July, a weak weather front arrived from the west, but was mostly halted over Ireland and the Irish Sea.

[21] The weather also affected roads nationwide, and gritters were mobilised due to the asphalt concrete softening under the extreme heat.

[23] On 10 July, a weak cold front crossed Britain from north to south, bringing low cloud levels and scattered showers.

The official Visit Britain body forecast the number of international visitors to the UK would increase by around 15% from the USA alone, as the effect of the worldwide Royal Wedding publicity fed through into fine summer weather and late holiday bookings.

[27] Hotels in competing Mediterranean resorts, such as Ibiza, were forced to slash their prices as demand from British and Irish tourists declined sharply as people decided to holiday across Britain and Ireland.

[28] Remoter resorts and destinations benefited from visitors' attempts to escape the domestic crowds, and rural Ireland reported a dramatic increase in tourism with an average of 70% occupancy rates at smaller establishments.

Fresh produce growers such as the soft fruit sector were largely unaffected by the lack of rain, with British Summer Fruits chairman Nick Marsto telling Horticulture Week trade magazine that the... "soft-fruit sector has largely avoided any adverse effects.

The Environmental Audit Committee of MP's reported fears 7,000 heat-related UK deaths annually by 2050 unless the government acts promptly.

Chair of the committee, Mary Creagh said, "The government must stop playing pass the parcel with local councils and the NHS and develop a strategy to protect our ageing population from this increasing risk".

Frances O'Grady of the TUC stated, "With heatwaves becoming more common, we need clear and sensible rules to protect working people.

[20] On 5 July in the Republic of Ireland a state of absolute drought was declared because there had been no rainfall at 96% of its weather stations in the previous two weeks.

[41] By July, president of the National Farmers Union Guy Smith described the crops as "being parched to the bone".

[44] The dry weather caused patterns of vegetation to be revealed, indicative of Roman and pre-Roman settlements.

[46] The National Monuments Service of the Irish Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht said that the increased use of aerial drone photography and the exceptional dry weather was leading to some remarkable discoveries.

[46] The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales observed such indications of historical settlements across Wales,[45] including at Castell Llwyn Gwinau in Tregaron, Ceredigion, at the Cross Oak Hillfort near Talybont-on-Usk, at Caerwent, Monmouthshire and newly-discovered settlements near Magor, Monmouthshire and Langstone, Newport.