The Met Office has issued its first verdict on the likely weather at the beginning of autumn, with temperatures expected to be above average and a chance of further heatwaves.
Drought and water restrictions continue
It comes as all of Wales and large parts of England remain in drought conditions, with more than 27 million people across England under water restrictions due to the lack of rainfall and hot weather over the summer months.
Wessex Water became the latest utility company to announce water restrictions, with a temporary hosepipe ban set to come into effect from midnight on Tuesday (August 18) for all 1.4 million customers across areas in Bath, Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire.
Recent heatwave and its impacts
It comes hot on the heels of the UK’s fifth heatwave of summer 2026, which saw the hottest day of the year recorded in Kew Gardens, London, on Thursday (August 13) when temperatures hit 38.1C.
Land remains parched across vast areas of the country, with weeks of extreme heat and little rainfall bringing severe impacts to wildlife, farmers and emergency services as they battle wildfires.
The Government sent an emergency alert to mobile devices across England and Wales on Friday warning people to avoid partaking in any activities that can cause a fire.
Autumn forecast
Fresher conditions are expected this week, according to the Met Office, with rain and even thunderstorms possible in some parts of the UK.
But looking at the UK weather agency's long range forecast for the UK, which now covers the beginning of meteorological autumn, the Met Office has said that conditions are likely to be around normal for the time of year.
"As we move into the start of meteorological autumn, signals for the prevailing weather patterns affecting the UK are weak, thus something close to the climatological norm is most likely," the Met Office forecast reads.
Meteorological autumn begins on September 1 and lasts until November 30, before the start of meteorological winter on December 1.
The forecast continues: "This means a broad northwest-southeast split in conditions, with the high pressure becoming centred close to the south of the UK and more changeable conditions developing towards the north and northwest. Meanwhile, drier, more settled weather is slightly more likely towards the south and east."
Issuing a verdict on further heatwaves, the Met Office says: "Temperatures are likely to be above average overall. There is a chance that late season hot spells or heatwaves develop, especially in the south."
