The Met Office has stated that a "big change is on the way" after this week's extreme heat, with cooler, more changeable weather pushing in from the Atlantic by Sunday. However, not all parts of the country will see instant respite, as many temperatures are set to remain above 30°C over the weekend for parts of the UK. Forecasters warn that eastern parts of England are set to hold on to higher temperatures for longer than elsewhere.
Saturday's Temperature Split
While the change is expected to reach "virtually all parts" of the UK by Sunday, Saturday is forecast to bring a sharper split, with some areas feeling cooler sooner than others. Met Office meteorologist Aiden McGivern said on the forecaster's YouTube channel: "As we go into Saturday, it's still a very warm start to the day across eastern and southeastern parts of the country. Feeling fresher further west."
He added that the wind direction will make the difference for many, stating: "That breeze coming in from the southwest will certainly make it feel a little fresher in the north and west on Saturday compared with further east because actually in the east it is another hot day." Temperatures in the east could still be notably high for the time of year, with the latest forecast showing temperatures widely exceeding 30°C, with peaks of up to 34°C in London or East Anglia.
Sunday's Cooler Spread
By Sunday, the cooler air is expected to spread more widely. The Met Office forecaster said: "Sunday is the day that the cooler and more changeable weather spreads to virtually all parts." Despite the drop in temperature, this will still be a decent summer day for most. "It will actually be a fine summer's day for many parts of England and Wales even if we've lost the heat and humidity," he said.
Temperatures are expected to drop to 27°C in the southeast, and then to the high teens and low 20s for Scotland, Northern Ireland, Northern England, Wales, and the West of England. While many areas should feel more comfortable, McGivern cautioned that the warmth won't disappear everywhere at once, with "that heat clinging on for the longest in the east of England."
Areas Under Hot Weather Warning on Saturday
An extreme heat weather warning remains in place across parts of England on Saturday. The Met Office has named 31 areas that will not cool off, including:
- East Midlands: Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Rutland
- East of England: Bedford, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Norfolk, Peterborough, Southend-on-Sea, Suffolk, Thurrock
- London & South East England: Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Hove, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Greater London, Hampshire, Kent, Medway, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Reading, Slough, Surrey, West Berkshire, West Sussex, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham
Residents in these areas are advised to stay hydrated, avoid the sun during peak hours, and check on vulnerable individuals as the heat persists through Saturday.
