UK Weather: Summer Warmth to Return Next Week with 26C Forecast
After a changeable week, drier and warmer conditions will dominate for some next week, but with little rain for those who need it.
Temperatures could peak at 26C (79F) next week as late summer warmth returns to parts of the UK. Southern areas are expected to experience the highest temperatures, though most locations will be warmer than normal for late September. This warmth may persist all week for some in England and Wales, but it might be a shorter-lived boost for Scotland and Northern Ireland. The high pressure system responsible for the warmth is also expected to bring minimal rain to areas continuing to experience drought conditions.
Warm and Windy Start to the Weekend
The week began with changeable conditions, including blustery winds from the Atlantic and gales along some western coasts and hills. Saturday is expected to bring sunshine and passing showers for many. However, a weather front across southern parts of England and Wales may lead to mostly cloudy conditions with rain or drizzle, particularly in the southwest. Despite potential cloud cover, the south-westerly winds are forecast to bring warm and humid air from the mid-Atlantic.
The current weather patterns are influenced by a brisk and straight jet stream across the Atlantic. This has directed rain-bearing low-pressure systems north of the UK and high pressure to the south, resulting in the mixed conditions. As the jet stream buckles northward through the latter half of the weekend, the weather is expected to gradually calm down.
Sunday is predicted to see early rain in the far north and south of the UK moving away, leaving most areas dry with sunny spells by the afternoon. Strong winds in northeast Scotland are also expected to ease. While pleasant in the sunshine, temperatures will be close to the seasonal average of 15-21 Celsius (59-70F).
Warmth Returns Next Week with Break from Rain
High pressure is forecast to build more widely across the UK at the start of next week. Aside from early rain in Scotland and northern England, most places are expected to see increasing sunshine during the day. Temperatures will rise slightly compared to Sunday, with humidity levels also increasing. This more humid air, combined with light winds across England and Wales by Tuesday, could lead to misty and foggy conditions in the mornings. Once the sun breaks through, it is expected to feel like late summer warmth has returned.
Temperatures could reach around 25 or 26 Celsius (77-79F) in southeast England, with many other parts of England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Eastern Scotland reaching the low 20s Celsius (low 70s F). In 2026, the UK has already seen a record number of days above 25C, exceeding the previous record of 89 days set in 1959.
A weather front moving into western Scotland is likely to bring some rain and could become the focus for a developing low-pressure system, potentially bringing more widespread rain to the northern half of the UK by midweek.
Continued Dryness in Some Regions
As high pressure persists across the south, many areas are expected to remain largely dry and warm through the rest of the week. This continued lack of significant rainfall is not ideal for declining reservoir and water storage levels. Despite recent rainfall, it has been insufficient to break the drought across most of England and Wales.
By Friday morning, Leconfield in East Yorkshire had received only 11% of its normal September rainfall, and Durham just 14%, both well below the typical 50-60% for this time of year. Some forecasts suggest the potential for rain returning more widely late in the week and into the following week, while others indicate a continuation of high pressure and possibly even warmer air.