Three heatwaves in three months has baked Britain dry, with a drought declared in parts of Wales, and other regions on track to follow suit if it doesn’t rain soon
The Met Office has named the UK’s next heatwave window — suggesting a fourth hot spell of the summer is on its way.
This summer has been exceptionally warm, with three heatwaves baking Britain in May, June, and July. In late July, the mercury hit 37C in Norfolk, only a few degrees off the record high of 40.3C recorded in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, in July 2022.
The heatwaves have dried the country out, with a drought being declared in Wales last week. Multiple regions are in ‘prolonged dry weather’, the stage before drought, officials say.
And a fourth heatwave in four months could hit the country later in August, the Met Office believes. Its long-range forecast for August 10 to August 24 is when temperatures could climb again.
The forecast said: “Dry and settled conditions will probably dominate much of this period with high pressure patterns tending to affect the UK. This may be interrupted at times by Atlantic frontal systems, especially in the north, or thunderstorms in the south.
“However, overall rainfall amounts will likely be below normal. Temperatures will probably be above normal and some spells of hot weather and heatwaves are possible, especially in the south.”
A heatwave will feel a million miles away for most of the UK, which had a wet weekend on Sunday (July 26). Showers are set to stay in the north of England, while the south will stay dry and see relatively normal temperatures for the time of year.
The start of August will be ‘very warm’ in the south-east, the Met Office medium-range forecast for July 31 to August 9 said: “Temperatures ranging from around average in the north-west to warm in the southeast, perhaps becoming very warm in the southeast through the weekend.
“It will probably become more changeable thereafter, with potential for an area of low pressure to move close to or across the UK early in August.
“This could bring spells of heavy rain and perhaps some strong winds for a time. It may become more settled again toward the end of the first week of August.”
On Monday (July 27), the highs will be 25C in London, 19C in Edinburgh, 21C in Cardiff and Belfast, and 19C in Manchester, where it will rain.
