The UK’s record-breaking heatwave is set to end this weekend with temperatures expected to plunge by as much as 15C from Sunday, bringing welcome relief after one of the most extreme heat events in British history pushed the mercury to 40C and triggered widespread disruption across schools and transport networks.
The Met Office has confirmed that Thursday will mark the peak of the heat for most of the country, with temperatures expected to hit 40C in some areas and widespread readings above 37C. A rare red heat warning remains in place covering a swathe of England stretching from London through Somerset and Swansea up to Birmingham until midnight tonight, while an amber warning has been extended through to 9pm on Saturday for areas that will retain extreme heat into the weekend. The far south-east will hold onto the warmth the longest, with peaks of around 32C still possible on Saturday.
Wednesday’s temperatures already smashed the previous UK June record of 35.6C, which had stood since 1976 and 1957, according to the Met Office. Overnight temperatures have been equally remarkable, with urban areas failing to drop below 20C — the threshold for so-called “tropical nights” — bringing significant disruption to sleep and adding to the health burden on vulnerable people.
The heat is being driven by a “heat dome” of high pressure locked over western Europe, channelling hot Saharan air northward across the continent. The Met Office said further updates to warnings remained possible as the forecast evolved, cautioning: “As the forecast continues to evolve, we may need to issue further updates once more detail becomes clear.”
Relief is now firmly in sight. From Sunday, a shift to a more westerly weather pattern is expected to drag temperatures sharply downward, with Cardiff forecast to reach just 20C and London topping out at 26C — a fall of around 15C from Thursday’s peak. The Met Office said: “Next week is likely to see a change to more of a westerly influence on the UK’s weather, with a return to more average temperatures for the time of year and a mixture of winds and rain, particularly for those in the North West.”
For millions who have endured days of extreme heat, school closures, train cancellations and health warnings, the forecast drop will represent a significant and long-awaited change.
