New weather maps from Netweather indicate that the UK is set to experience another surge in temperatures, with highs of 31C expected in parts of England. The warm spell is forecast to last from Friday, July 17, through Tuesday, July 21, before a brief respite.
Temperature Peaks and Affected Areas
The maps show the warmest conditions on Friday evening, with 31C recorded around Birmingham and Gloucester. London and Surrey could reach 30C. Most of England, including Leeds, Liverpool, Leicester, and Oxford, will see temperatures above 25C, with some areas hitting 28C. Conditions are expected to dip below 25C on Wednesday, July 23, before warmer air returns next weekend.
Met Office Definition and Summer Trends
The Met Office defines a heatwave as at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding a location-specific threshold. Provisional data up to July 15 shows the UK's average mean temperature this summer is 1.8C above the long-term average. England is 2.4C above average, Wales 2.2C above, while Scotland and Northern Ireland are 0.9C and 1.3C above, respectively.
2026 Summer Records
Met Office Science Manager Amy Doherty said: "We are only halfway through summer, yet 2026 has already delivered more days above 30C than the whole of 1976 and become the first year on record to reach 35C in May, June and July." She added: "What stands out most, however, is that the warmth hasn't 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."
Future Heatwave Projections
A Met Office study highlights that UK heatwaves could become longer and hotter due to climate trends, with an estimated 50-50 chance of seeing 40C again in the UK within the next 12 years. The forecaster also provided a short-term outlook: showers in the south easing Friday evening, with cloud in the north; Saturday largely fine with sunny spells, isolated showers possibly thundery, and less hot; Sunday through Tuesday remaining fine and dry with sunny spells, patchy rain possible in the north, temperatures near seasonal norm on Sunday then trending above.
