The UK is bracing for its fourth heatwave of the summer, with temperatures set to climb above 30°C (86°F) over the coming days.
Yellow heat health alerts have been issued by the UK Health Security Agency for most of England—excluding the north-east and north-west—from Monday to Wednesday. The forecast meets the official heatwave threshold: three consecutive days of temperatures exceeding 25–28°C, depending on location.
From storms to scorching
The heatwave marks a sharp shift from earlier in the week, when Storm Floris brought severe weather to parts of the country. Now, warm air is being drawn up from the south, driven by high pressure moving across southern England and low pressure—remnants of Tropical Storm Dexter—out in the Atlantic.
England and Wales will see the most sunshine, though scattered thunderstorms are possible. Northern Ireland and Scotland will be cooler with spells of rain, particularly on Monday.
Rising heat
After a warm weekend, temperatures will rise sharply from Monday. Much of England and Wales will reach the mid-to-high 20s, with London and the Home Counties exceeding 30°C. Humid conditions will persist until Wednesday, particularly in east Wales, the Midlands, and eastern and south-eastern England.
Tuesday’s peak
Tuesday is expected to be the hottest day, with widespread highs in the high 20s and many areas exceeding 30°C. Parts of the south Midlands could hit 34°C (93°F). However, showers—possibly heavy and thundery—may develop in some regions.
Pollen levels will also rise to “high” across much of England during the hot spell.
Regional differences
Scotland and Northern Ireland will avoid the most extreme heat but could still see 23–25°C (73–77°F), around 4–7°C above average.
Looking ahead
By the end of next week, Atlantic air is expected to replace the southern airflow, lowering temperatures slightly—though southern and eastern areas will likely stay warmer than average.
Long-range forecasts suggest August could still bring more very warm or hot spells, especially in the south and east, interspersed with some much-needed rain. Photo by Alisdare Hickson, Wikimedia commons.