The Met Office has issued its verdict on the likelihood of further heatwaves in August, with temperatures forecast to soar to as high as 30C later this week. The UK has already experienced three heatwaves this year, with temperatures reaching scorching highs of 35C during periods in May, June and July.
Met Office Forecast for This Week
The weather forecaster said in a post on X yesterday: "The heat will start re-building across parts of England and Wales this week, with temperatures possibly approaching 30°C in places by Friday. However, temperatures won't rise as high as recent hot spells and northern areas of the UK will be somewhat cooler and cloudier."
Outlook for August
It said "changeable conditions are likely to continue" in the first week of August with spells of rain possible, alongside some drier and brighter intervals. The Met Office added the first part of August "may therefore be rather mixed", although temperatures are still likely to be above average overall.
However, hotter weather could hit the UK later next month. The Met Office said: "The key message is that further heatwaves are possible but not guaranteed. The longer-range outlook indicates that temperatures are likely to be above average overall, with a risk of hot weather and heatwaves later in August. At this range, it is not possible to say exactly where any heatwave conditions would occur, how intense they might be, or how long they could last.
"Heatwave development will depend on the position and strength of high pressure, the source of the air moving across the UK, and whether any Atlantic or thundery interruptions break down the warmer pattern. So, while the end of July and start of August look a little more unsettled, the chance of more notable warmth increases later in August. The most likely outcome is a transition from mixed weather at first towards something drier, warmer and more settled as the month goes on. For now, the outlook suggests the heat could return, particularly later in August, but any further heatwaves will depend on how strongly high pressure develops and how persistent that pattern becomes."
