The current spell of hot weather in the UK is set to persist for at least another seven to ten days, according to forecasters. The Met Office has confirmed that 2026 has become the first year on record to reach 35°C in May, June and July, with temperatures having topped 30°C for the past 11 days.
Extended Period of Warmth
Met Office spokesman Graham Madge said: “The settled and fine conditions people are currently enjoying looks locked in for the next seven to 10 days and is likely to remain strongly.” On Wednesday, the thermometer hit 30.5°C in Hurn, Dorset. The weekend is expected to bring plenty of sunshine and dry weather, although there may be isolated showers and a slight dip in temperatures.
It remains too early to determine whether the heatwave conditions will extend beyond the next 10 days and into the end of July.
Record-Breaking Statistics
David Hayter, the Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist, noted: “Every day for the last 11 days somewhere in the UK has seen temperatures reach or exceed 30°C.” He explained that the high pressure responsible for the prolonged fine spell will continue for at least the next week, but will shift enough to allow a more northerly flow, introducing cooler conditions that will end the run of 30°C days. However, some locations may still experience heatwave conditions through the end of the week.
Hayter added: “July and August are the main months in the UK for heatwaves. Having had three significant heatwaves in the UK already this year and very little rainfall for many, dry soils could provide less resistance to daytime heating, again challenging heatwave criteria into the second half of the summer.” Whether the current heatwave continues will depend on whether there are three consecutive days of temperatures above 28°C in London or 25°C for the rest of the country.
Regional Temperature Variations
England has been particularly warm, with mean temperatures currently 2.4°C above the average of 21°C that could be expected. Wales is sitting 2.2°C above an average of around 19.3°C, while Scotland and Northern Ireland have remained closer to their seasonal norms of 17.3°C and 18.6°C, though they are still above average at 0.9°C and 1.3°C respectively.
Unusual Humidity and Overnight Warmth
Met Office science manager Amy Doherty highlighted the broader context: “We’re only halfway through summer, yet 2026 has already delivered more days above 30°C than the whole of 1976 and become the first year on record to reach 35°C in May, June and July. What stands out most, however, is that the warmth has not been confined to the daytime, with overnight temperatures tracking at record levels for this stage of the season. The high humidity so far this summer has also been unusual, making conditions particularly uncomfortable. Taken together, these statistics make 2026 one of the most remarkable starts to a UK summer in our records.”
