The Met Office has revealed the day Brits could see temperatures soar to 36C next week, as the fifth heatwave of the year approaches. Records have already been broken, with a temperature of 35C recorded in the UK for the first time ever on three consecutive months – May, June and July. This could be broken again in August, with some forecast models suggesting 36C could be recorded in central and south-east England this coming week.
Health alerts issued
Yellow heat health alerts have been triggered from 9am on Saturday to 9pm on Tuesday, warning that the hot weather could impact people's health and wellbeing. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued these alerts for the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London.
Temperature forecast
The Met Office said temperatures will climb through the weekend as heatwave conditions return, with a high of 36C expected in parts of East Anglia and south-east England by Thursday. Temperatures could reach 30C on Saturday, before climbing into the low 30s in southern and south-east England on Sunday. Highs of up to 30C are possible across parts of England and Wales on Tuesday, increasing to 32C to 34C on Wednesday, with the highest temperatures currently expected on Thursday.
Record-breaking year
The highest temperature recorded so far this year was 38C at Lingwood in Norfolk, on June 28. There have been 33 days so far in 2026 when temperatures have gone over 30C somewhere in the UK. Yet another worrying record could be broken next week, as 34 days was the record in 1995.
North-south split
Forecasters have predicted a north-south split in the weather at the weekend, with Scotland and Northern Ireland likely to see spells of heavy rain. England and Wales however will remain largely dry, sunny and increasingly warm.
Impact of heatwaves
Two record-breaking heatwaves in May and June led to more than 2,800 excess deaths, and two more heatwaves in July have fuelled drought and wildfires. Several wildfires have broken out across the UK over recent weeks, with large blazes at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, Headon Warren on the Isle of Wight, Llanwonno in the Rhondda Valleys, South Wales, and the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. These blazes are likely to become exceptionally severe on Sunday for almost all of the east and south-east of England, according to the Fire Severity Index. "Exceptional" severity is its highest ranking.
