The Met Office has issued a forecast indicating that rain and thunderstorms may affect parts of southern England on Wednesday and Thursday, but these will be sporadic and many areas will remain dry. The UK is currently experiencing its third heatwave of 2026, with temperatures expected to reach 30-32°C across much of England and Wales on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Temperature Outlook and Regional Variations
According to the Met Office, some eastern coastal areas will be cooler due to an onshore breeze and cloudier conditions at times. A Met Office spokesperson stated: "In terms of rain, there's a chance of some showers and thunderstorms in isolated spots in the south of England on Wednesday and Thursday, but these are likely to be sporadic in nature, and many people won't see any rain this week."
High pressure will dominate the weather pattern, bringing plenty of sunshine and continued heat. However, low cloud may linger around North Sea coastal parts, pushing in during the nights and burning back each day.
Weekend Forecast and Heat Health Alerts
The risk of showers will reduce over the weekend as high pressure builds back in from the northwest. The Met Office spokesperson added: "By the weekend, high pressure builds back in from the northwest, reducing the shower risk and bringing a return to more widely settled, dry and still warm conditions. Temperatures ease slightly by Saturday compared with the midweek peak, but continue to remain fine and warm for many areas."
Heat health alerts come into effect from Tuesday and remain valid until Friday. Yellow alerts have been issued for the East Midlands, East of England, London, North West, South East, South West, and West Midlands. These warnings indicate significant impacts likely across health and social care services due to high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those with health conditions or aged 65 and older.
Wildfire Risks and Ongoing Incidents
Firefighters are continuing to tackle wildfires across England and Wales, including a major mountain fire in Conwy, north Wales. The blaze, which started on Sunday, prompted the evacuation of nearby homes and has been classified as a major incident. The warm and dry conditions, coupled with gusty easterly winds, mean that extreme wildfire conditions will persist for many parts of England and Wales for much of the coming week.
