New weather maps indicate a sharp temperature drop across the UK after this week's heatwave, with overnight lows falling to as low as 4C in parts of Scotland by Friday, July 31. The latest ECMWF forecast shows cooler air sweeping south, creating a stark north-south divide.
Coldest areas in Scotland
Northern and eastern Scotland will experience the chilliest conditions. Four counties are forecast to fall below 6C overnight: Highland at 4C, Moray at 5C, Aberdeenshire at 5C, and Perth and Kinross at 5C. Elsewhere in Scotland, lows range from 6C to 9C.
North-south divide
Northern England will see minimum temperatures between 8C and 12C. Southern England remains milder, with overnight lows of 14C to 18C, and parts of the southeast may hold onto 18C to 20C by dawn.
Heatwave brief and intense
The Met Office described the heat as short-lived. Wednesday is expected to be the hottest day, with southeastern England potentially reaching 35C and some areas meeting official heatwave criteria by Thursday. However, cooler, fresher air will spread across much of the UK from Thursday, bringing temperatures back to seasonal averages by Friday. Northern areas will cool first, while the far south stays slightly warmer into the weekend.
Weekend outlook
Saturday is likely to be mostly dry, but uncertainty grows for later in the weekend, with potential for rain and stronger winds as more unsettled conditions develop.
