The Met Office has confirmed that the UK is on the brink of another heatwave, with temperatures set to climb back up to 31C by Monday, July 6. This follows a period of scorching heat last week that forced schools to close early and prompted some employers to allow staff to work from home.
According to the Met Office's latest forecast, London will see temperatures of 28C or higher for three consecutive days — July 3, July 4, and July 5 — meeting the official definition of a heatwave for that region. The mercury is then expected to peak at 31C on Monday, July 6.
Brief Cooldown Before Heat Returns
Met Office forecaster Honor Criswick noted that the new week would bring some relief: "The new week brings in some fresher air. It's not going to feel as hot or humid, but there is still some sunshine in the forecast." After nearly a week of extreme heat, which peaked at close to 40C, many Britons will welcome the temporary drop.
South-east England will experience the warmest weather during the first half of the week, with highs of 25C forecast in London and overnight temperatures not falling below 16C. Criswick added: "For most, we are going to see some showers pushing in to the North West at times, but across Scotland any showers will become well scattered by Monday afternoon. By the afternoon, there will be plenty of sunny spells and much lighter winds, with highs reaching around 23 to 24C."
Rain and Mild Temperatures Midweek
The Met Office predicts heavy rain across the North West on Tuesday, which could spread into parts of the North East later in the day. Temperatures will feel fairly mild for most, sitting in the high teens or low 20s. However, London could warm up again from Thursday, with highs of around 27C — just shy of heatwave territory.
Potential for Even Higher Temperatures
According to forecasting platform WXCharts, another hot spell could arrive from July 7, with temperatures climbing to around 32C across parts of south-east England. The following day could be even hotter, with highs of up to 36C forecast for London before easing slightly to around 35C on July 9. Temperatures are then expected to remain in the high 20s in the days afterward.
While long-range forecasts are less certain, the Met Office has hinted that warmer weather is likely to persist. In its three-month summer outlook, it stated that temperatures between July 11 and July 25 are expected to be above average overall, with a greater chance of hot conditions developing at times.
