After the UK's hottest summer on record, with temperatures repeatedly soaring to the high 30s, the Met Office long-range forecast suggests that high pressure could return towards the end of August, bringing the possibility of another heatwave.
Recent scorching temperatures
On Thursday, Kew Gardens in London recorded the UK's hottest day of the year so far, hitting 38.1C. The heat has left many areas facing drought, with hosepipe bans in place, while wildfires have ripped across the UK.
On Friday, Andy Burnham set in place a series of emergency measures, warning that the country was living in a "tinderbox Britain". These included a temporary ban on disposable barbecues, calling in the military, and commissioning aerial firefighting capacity such as helicopters to dampen flames when fires break out.
Emergency measures and weekend forecast
The Prime Minister said plans were being drawn up for emergency financial support for fire services battling wildfires, with 37 burning across the nation at that time. He was speaking during a visit to Stourbridge to see the impact of a devastating blaze which swept across 500 acres, destroying 19 homes.
On Saturday, temperatures started to drop, but with repeated spikes during 2026, many are wondering if the scorching days are gone for the year or if more are to come. The Met Office forecast for the weekend indicates that Saturday will be dry for most, with hazy sunshine and light winds, though cloudier skies in the north with showers across Scotland. Sunday will be rather cloudy with showery light rain across Scotland and Northern Ireland, but dry elsewhere with warm hazy sunshine.
Long-range outlook
The Met Office said Thursday had marked the peak of the latest heatwave, with temperatures between 36-38C across much of central, western and eastern England. Looking at the long-range forecast from August 19-28, the Met Office says: "The first few days of this period are likely to be rather changeable, with many parts of the UK seeing showers or perhaps some longer spells of rain. Within this broad pattern, there is potential for a low pressure system to develop just to the west or possibly over the UK, which would bring the possibility more widespread rain and perhaps strong winds."
"By the latter part of August, there are signals for high pressure to become rather more dominant again, with more in the way of dry weather developing once more, especially towards parts of the north and west. Temperatures are more likely to be above normal than below overall, though the possibility of widespread or exceptional heat is perhaps a little lower than in recent weeks."
Prospects for September
Looking further ahead to August 29-September 12, the Met Office advises: "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 the current preferred story. This means a broad northwest-southeast split in conditions, with the high becoming centred further to the south than in the latter part of August and with more changeable conditions developing towards the north and northwest."
"Meanwhile, drier, more settled weather is slightly more likely towards the south and east. Temperatures are again likely to be above average overall, with the potential for late season hot spells or heatwaves, especially in the south."
So while temperatures are falling for now, according to the Met Office forecast, there could be another heatwave later this month as high pressure could return towards the end of August.
