The Met Office has forecast the end of the UK heatwave, with temperatures expected to drop by 15°C over the weekend. A red heat warning remains in place until midnight Thursday, stretching from London across to Somerset, Swansea, and Birmingham. An amber warning has been extended until 9pm on Saturday as temperatures continue to climb above previous record-breaking highs.
Current Heatwave Conditions
On Thursday, temperatures are forecast to reach 40°C in some areas, with widespread temperatures above 37°C expected. Wednesday's high broke the previous June record of 35.6°C set in 1976 and 1957, according to the Met Office. Overnight temperatures are exceptionally high, not expected to drop below 20°C in urban areas.
The heatwave has already caused widespread disruption to schools and transport networks, with closures and reduced timetables remaining in place. The extreme heat is driven by a "heat-dome" settling over western Europe, bringing extreme conditions across the continent.
Forecast for the Weekend
The Met Office stated: "Thursday will see the peak of the heat for many, though those further east will retain extreme heat on Friday and Saturday and could continue to see further impacts, which has resulted in Amber warnings." The far southeast will retain warmth the longest, with peaks around 32°C likely on Saturday.
By Sunday, temperatures could be around 15°C cooler, with Cardiff forecast to reach just 20°C and London expecting highs of 26°C. The Met Office added: "Next week is likely to see a change to more of a westerly influence on the UK’s weather, with a return to more average temperatures for the time of year and a mixture of winds and rain, particularly for those in the North West."
Health and Safety Warnings
The forecaster warned that further updates could still be made to the alerts as conditions develop. The Met Office said: "As the forecast continues to evolve, we may need to issue further updates once more detail becomes clear." Following the rare red warnings and health alerts, the fall in temperature is likely to be welcomed by many across the nation after the chaos that has erupted.
