The Met Office has issued a long-range forecast suggesting the UK could experience above-average temperatures and the potential for further heatwaves before summer ends. The outlook covers Saturday, August 29, to Saturday, September 12, as the country moves into meteorological autumn.
Forecast Details
Weather specialists say there is currently limited certainty about the exact weather pattern, but temperatures are "again likely to be above average overall." The Met Office also notes "the potential for late season hot spells or heatwaves, especially in the south."
The long-range prediction indicates a broad north-west to south-east split, with more unsettled weather across northern and north-western areas. Southern and eastern regions could be more prone to dry and stable conditions as high pressure becomes established further south.
Southern and Eastern Bias
The outlook states "drier, more settled weather is slightly more likely towards the south and east," while more changeable conditions are expected in the north and north-west. This suggests summer warmth could continue into early September, though the Met Office has not predicted a definite heatwave.
The Met Office stressed that predictions beyond five days cannot offer the same degree of local precision because small shifts in atmospheric conditions can dramatically affect British weather.
Remarkable Summer So Far
This forecast follows an extraordinarily warm summer. By mid-July, the Met Office revealed 2026 had already witnessed "three widespread heatwaves and numerous climate records already broken." Spring 2026 was the hottest on record for England and Wales, and June became England's warmest June ever documented.
Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong said: "This current spell of extreme heat is the latest in a remarkable summer. Numerous temperature records have been broken and we’ve seen an exceptionally dry season across much of England and Wales too."
Heat-Related Deaths
Earlier this summer, researchers from Imperial College London, the Met Office, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimated there were 2,700 excess deaths in England and Wales during May and June’s record hot spells.
Forecasters stress the September outlook does not guarantee a heatwave. Instead, it indicates the wider atmospheric pattern currently supports above-average temperatures, with southern regions holding the strongest potential for late-season warmth.
