The Met Office has named the UK’s next heatwave window, suggesting a fourth hot spell of the summer is on its way. This summer has been exceptionally warm, with three heatwaves in May, June, and July. In late July, temperatures reached 37C in Norfolk, just shy of the record 40.3C in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, in July 2022.
Drought and Dry Conditions
The heatwaves have dried out the country, with a drought declared in Wales last week. Officials say multiple regions are in ‘prolonged dry weather’, the stage before drought.
Fourth Heatwave Possible in August
A fourth heatwave in four months could hit later in August, the Met Office believes. Its long-range forecast for August 10 to August 24 indicates temperatures could climb again. The forecast states: “Dry and settled conditions will probably dominate much of this period with high pressure patterns tending to affect the UK. This may be interrupted at times by Atlantic frontal systems, especially in the north, or thunderstorms in the south. However, overall rainfall amounts will likely be below normal. Temperatures will probably be above normal and some spells of hot weather and heatwaves are possible, especially in the south.”
Recent Wet Weekend and Outlook
A heatwave will feel far away for most of the UK after a wet weekend on Sunday (July 26). Showers are set to stay in the north of England, while the south will remain dry with relatively normal temperatures. The start of August will be ‘very warm’ in the south-east, according to the Met Office medium-range forecast for July 31 to August 9: “Temperatures ranging from around average in the north-west to warm in the southeast, perhaps becoming very warm in the southeast through the weekend. It will probably become more changeable thereafter, with potential for an area of low pressure to move close to or across the UK early in August. This could bring spells of heavy rain and perhaps some strong winds for a time. It may become more settled again toward the end of the first week of August.”
On Monday (July 27), highs will be 25C in London, 19C in Edinburgh, 21C in Cardiff and Belfast, and 19C in Manchester, where it will rain.
