London’s heatwave is set to finally come to an end this weekend, but temperatures will remain high for at least another week, forecasters have said.
Two Weeks of Heatwave Conditions
The capital has seen almost two weeks of heatwave conditions with daily highs above 28°C since July 5. The third heatwave since May has seen the thermometer reach 34°C in the capital and continued a long spell of dry weather stretching back 16 days to June 27.
The hot and dry weather has fuelled the spread of two fires in London in recent days that have caused major disruption to the capital. Heatwave conditions will remain above the threshold of 28°C in London again on Friday.
Weekend Temperature Drop
However, the heatwave will finally end as temperatures only hit 25°C on Saturday before dipping slightly to 23°C on Sunday. Temperatures will then continue to hit highs of around 24°C to 25°C for the next week.
This year has become the first year on record to reach 35°C in May, June and July, according to the Met Office.
Met Office Statements
Met Office spokesman Graham Madge said: “The settled and fine conditions people are currently enjoying looks locked in for the next seven to ten days and is likely to remain strongly.”
David Hayter, the Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist, said: “Every day for the last 11 days somewhere in the UK has seen temperatures reach or exceed 30°C. The high pressure – which has brought this prolonged fine spell – will continue for the next week or so at least, but will shift enough to enable a more northerly flow that will introduce a cooler feel that will end the run of 30°C days. However, we are still likely to see some locations remain in heatwave conditions to finish the week.”
Dry Soils and Further Heatwaves
He said: “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 days of temperatures above 28°C in London or 25°C for the rest of the country.
Summer Temperature Anomalies
It comes as Britons have so far coped with a sweltering summer of above-average temperatures and persistently warm nights. England has been particularly warm, with mean temperatures currently 2.4°C above the average 21°C that could be expected. The Met Office said Wales is sitting 2.2°C above an average of around 19.3°C, and while Scotland and Northern Ireland have remained closer to their seasonal norms of 17.3°C and 18.6°C, they are still running above average at 0.9°C and 1.3°C respectively.
There has been persistently warm conditions across much of the UK, particularly in England and Wales, throughout the summer so far.
Record Warmth and Humidity
Met Office science manager Amy Doherty said: “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.”
