Fortnight-long heatwave threatens UK drought

2026-07-08T08:00:28.730+01:00

By Nathan Rao

A Bermudan heat dome plunging Britain into its third heatwave of 2026 threatens roasting sunshine and a growing risk of drought into mid-month.

Lower humidity compared to June’s scorcher will make this week feel less stifling, but temperatures by Friday will rocket back into the mid-30Cs.

High pressure, the meteorological pattern behind last month’s heatwave, will once more drive the hot weather, sealing a dome of super-heated air over the UK.

Rather than coming from the Continent, however, it will creep through as an extension of the Azores High – a semi-permanent region of high pressure off the coast of Portugal.

Also known as the ‘Bermuda High’, this ‘anticyclonic’ weather feature will force currents of descending air over the UK, driving clear skies and strong sunshine.

Temperatures will rise fastest across southern Britain, hitting the mid-30Cs by the end of the week.But it is the run up and period through mid-month when, according to some weather models, Britain could hit highs of 37C.

Government forecasters warn heat will become more widespread through the coming days, as cloudless skies allow UV levels to rocket.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said: “There is strong sunshine and high temperatures as the UK experiences its third heatwave in seven weeks.

“The heat will be building and becoming more widespread over the next few days.

UV levels will be very high in some places this week, so you will need sunscreen.

“The warmer air pushes further north on Wednesday, but there is still a lot of cloud with rain over the highlands, but for most places, it is sunny skies on Wednesday, and temperatures in the south over 30C, perhaps 31C or 32C.

“Under high pressure, the air is getting squashed allowing temperatures to build day by day, perhaps to 35C by Thursday or Friday.”

Swathes of the country under dominating high pressure, particularly southern and eastern regions, will see little to no rain.As hosepipe bans come into force in Kent, the threat looms large as Anglian Water moots restrictions.

Northwest Scotland and parts of northern England could see showers through this week before the heat dome swells north bringing hot, dry weather across much of Britain.

Surging heat will trigger thunderstorms in southern regions, the Met Office warns, although not the persistent rainfall needed to head off a drought.

Mr Deakin said: “The jet stream is moving weather systems in, and eventually it buckles and

moves to the north allowing high pressure to establish moving eastwards.

“We will see some sea breezes developing, by this stage temperatures across northern Ireland and southern Scotland are likely to get into the high 20Cs.

“High pressure remains with us, with perhaps more of an easterly breeze on Friday, and the southeast may not be as hot, and there may be some heavy thundery showers breaking out.”

The Weather Line

Fortnight-long heatwave threatens UK drought