UK heatwave risk peaks midweek as rain hits the north

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-07-29 16:39 3 min read

A lush green meadow under a vast sky filled with dramatic, puffy white clouds.

High pressure will bring dry, increasingly warm weather to much of the UK this week, but the forecast will vary sharply by region. Temperatures are expected to peak in southeastern England on Wednesday, when highs of up to 35°C are possible.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued Heat Health Alerts for parts of England from Tuesday to Thursday. The Met Office says some areas of the southeast could meet official heatwave criteria by Thursday, before temperatures ease towards the weekend.

Southeast England faces the highest temperatures

Tuesday will mark the start of the warmer spell, with temperatures widely reaching 29-30°C in southeastern England. Much of England, Wales and eastern Scotland should otherwise see a dry and sunny day.

Wednesday is expected to be the hottest day of the week. Maximum temperatures could reach 35°C across southeastern England, although the heat will not be widespread across the whole country.

The southeast is likely to remain hot into Thursday, with temperatures around 29°C in many places. This could be enough for parts of the region to meet official heatwave thresholds, which depend on both temperature levels and the number of consecutive hot days.

The Met Office’s Deputy Chief Forecaster, Gregory Wolverson, described the spell as short-lived, with temperatures climbing quickly through the first half of the week. He said the change to cooler, more unsettled weather would arrive sooner in northern and western areas.

UK heatwave risk peaks midweek as rain hits the north

Rain and thunderstorms remain possible in northern areas

Western Scotland and northwest England are expected to be cloudier on Tuesday, with periods of rain or drizzle. Northern Ireland and southern Scotland could also see heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms later in the day.

More changeable conditions are expected across northern parts of the UK through the week, with a mix of sunshine and showers. The Met Office says heavier showers and a small risk of isolated thunderstorms remain possible.

This means that conditions will feel very different across the country: southeastern areas may experience intense heat and strong sunshine, while parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northwest England could see rain before the cooler air spreads further south.

Temperatures should return closer to average by Friday

A gradual change will begin on Thursday, with cooler weather spreading across much of the UK. By Friday, temperatures are expected to be much closer to average for most areas and slightly below average in the far north.

The far south may stay somewhat warmer as high pressure continues to influence the weather, but temperatures should feel markedly lower than during the midweek peak.

The weekend forecast is less certain. Saturday is currently expected to remain relatively dry and settled, while more unsettled conditions could develop from Sunday, bringing spells of rain and strong winds. The Met Office says confidence is low at this stage, so later updates may change the detail.

Wildfire risk remains elevated across England and Wales

Despite rainfall in some areas over the weekend and during the week, wildfire conditions are expected to remain elevated across much of England and Wales.

The National Fire Chiefs Council said fire and rescue services remain prepared for further incidents during warm and dry conditions. It warned that most wildfires are preventable and asked the public to avoid disposable barbecues in parks, the countryside and other open spaces, never discard cigarettes on the ground, and take litter home.

The Met Office and UKHSA advise people in affected areas to follow the latest weather and health alerts as the hottest conditions develop between Tuesday and Thursday.

Source: Met Office Weather and Climate News

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source and forecast checks

This article follows the Met Office forecast published on 27 July 2026 and identifies the official health alerts, regional temperature outlook and stated forecast uncertainty.

Checks

Checked the Tuesday-to-Thursday heat alert period issued by the UK Health Security Agency.
Checked the forecast peak of up to 35°C in southeastern England on Wednesday.
Checked the expected return to closer-to-average temperatures by Friday.
Included the Met Office warning that the Sunday outlook has low confidence.

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