The UK could experience its fourth heatwave of the year next week, with temperatures possibly soaring to 40C, according to the latest forecasts from the Met Office. Weather models indicate that on Tuesday, temperatures could reach 33C in eastern and southern parts of England, while even northern areas like Yorkshire may see highs of 31C.
By Wednesday, temperatures are expected to rise further, with the potential for 35C in the south-east, 33C in the Midlands, and 32C along the England-Wales border. Meanwhile, Scotland and Northern Ireland are likely to remain cooler with temperatures struggling to reach the low-20s.
Thursday could bring extremely hot conditions, with the possibility of hitting 39C in central, southern, and south-eastern England, surpassing the current 2026 temperature record of 37.7C. The heat is set to continue into Friday and Saturday, with temperatures potentially reaching 37C on Friday in the east, and 38C-39C on Saturday, particularly in eastern England.
The peak of the heatwave is anticipated on Sunday, with highs of 40C potentially in eastern England, nearing the UK’s all-time temperature record of 40.3C. Maps showing temperature anomalies for the upcoming week highlight England and Wales in dark red and black, indicating temperatures well above the seasonal average.
According to the Met Office, temperatures are expected to rise steadily from next week, with southern and eastern areas possibly reaching 30C by Tuesday. The south-east region could experience very warm to hot conditions throughout the week. The Met Office suggests that this upcoming heatwave may meet the criteria for a heatwave, marking the fourth such episode in the UK this year.
Data from the GFS model indicates that around 18 counties in England could see temperatures soar to 39C or higher next week, highlighting the intensity of the heatwave expected.