The UK’s weather has seen a record-breaking summer so far, with the mercury breaking 30C for at least 12 days this month as part of the latest heatwave.
However temperatures now appear to be cooling down for most parts of the country, dropping to the low twenties and late teens further north, ending the summer’s third heatwave for many parts of England and Scotland.
Many Brits may already be asking when the next heatwave could be on the cards, whether they are preparing to bask in the sunshine or check how soon they need to invest in an air conditioning unit.
Heatwave conditions are met when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold, which varies by UK county between 25C and 28C.
ITV’s weather service has predicted that another heatwave could begin at the start of August, remarking on an area of high pressure building in the first weekend similar to the type of weather seen earlier this month.
The BBC weather service meanwhile remarked that a temperatures were expected to remain above average during late July and August, so further heatwaves could not be ruled out.
The Met Office told The Independent that there are no signs in their forecast at the moment of a widespread heatwave, but there was time for another one to develop.
The forecaster’s midterm predictions for between 25 July and 3 August show that the weather could be changeable with some rain spreading southeast across part of the UK at the start, with sunny spells interspersed.
Towards the term of the month, the Met Office is already seeing hints of high pressure returning to resume the dry conditions much of England and Wales has seen.
“Winds will be mostly light or moderate, but occasionally fresh or strong around some coasts, mainly in the north. Temperatures will be near or above normal, warmest in the south, and perhaps becoming very warm again by the start of August,” the forecast read.
It comes after the forecaster warned last week that the extreme climate conditions seen by Brits this summer are set to become the new normal.
Mike Kendon, Met Office climate information scientist, said: “2025 was the UK’s warmest year on record, the sixth time this record has been broken in the 21st century so far. The last four years are all in the top five warmest years.
“With warming at around 0.25C per decade since the 1980s, it seems likely this record will be broken again in a matter of years.”
There have already been 28 days in 2026, consecutive and non-consecutive, when 30C has been exceeded somewhere in the UK: seven in May, eight in June and 13 in July.
The record for the number of 30C-plus days in a calendar year is 34, which was set in 1995.
Met Office forecast for the next five days:
Today
Rather cloudy today across northern Scotland and Northern Ireland with some light showers. Dry with plenty of warm sunny spells elsewhere. Feeling very warm in the south with light winds.
Tonight
Cloudy in the north tonight with outbreaks of light drizzle in places. Largely dry elsewhere with clear spells and a few fog patches. Showers possible in East Anglia.
Wednesday
Staying cloudy and cool in the far north on Wednesday with light showers possible. Dry and sunny elsewhere with some very warm sunshine.
Outlook for Thursday to Saturday
Staying settled through to Friday with patchy cloud and showers in the north. Very warm in the south. Outbreaks of more widespread rain push into the north on Saturday.
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