Parts of the UK will once again experience hot temperatures as the scorching summer of 2026 continues, with conditions as hot as 29C in some regions.
Summer 2026 broke multiple temperature records, and it was incredibly dry as well. During peak times, temperatures reached the high 30s in parts of the UK, particularly around the south. While many are enjoying the current spell of cooler weather and the occasional spot of rain, hot weather looks like it will return in a matter of days.
Hottest regions on Wednesday
Current maps from forecast service WXCharts show temperatures reaching the high 20s in parts of England, particularly around the South East and, in particular, Greater London, on Wednesday, August 26. Meanwhile, temperatures look like they will exceed 25C across many parts of the country, from the south coast up to Birmingham.
However, temperatures look set to only reach the low 20s in most of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with the South and South East of England once again the hottest parts of the UK during temperature spikes.
Counties exceeding 25C
The latest maps from WXCharts show the following counties exceeding 25C on Wednesday, September 26:
- East Sussex
- West Sussex
- Kent
- Hampshire
- Surrey
- Greater London
- Essex
- Buckinghamshire
- Berkshire
- Hertfordshire
- Wiltshire
- Gloucestershire
- Herefordshire
- Worcestershire
- Warwickshire
- Oxfordshire
- Northamptonshire
- Bedfordshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Suffolk
- Norfolk
- Lincolnshire
- Rutland
- Leicestershire
- Staffordshire
- Shropshire
Wales: Monmouthshire, Cardiff, Newport, Torfaen, Caerphilly, Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot, Methyr Tyfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, The Vale of Glamorgan.
Unsettled period ahead
Temperatures will remain high on Thursday, August 27, but will be cooler than on Wednesday. Between Wednesday and Friday this week, the Met Office has warned of low pressure moving in from the southwest, bringing an unsettled period. There will likely be heavy downpours and thunderstorms each day.
Meanwhile, it is expected to turn increasingly humid, with temperatures staying a little above average. This weekend, the Met Office expects an unsettled start with showers or longer spells of rain possible across many parts of the UK. There will likely be some heavy rain, perhaps with some thunderstorms too.
"It will likely remain changeable into early September, with rainfall amounts probably above average for the time of year and the potential for some strong winds at times," the forecast adds. "However, some drier, more settled interludes could develop at times. Temperatures are likely to be near average, although some short-lived warm or hot spells are possible, especially in the south."
