The UK is bracing for a sharp end to its record-breaking heatwave, with weather maps indicating temperatures could fall to as low as 5C next week. This dramatic shift follows an extraordinary stretch of scorching weather that saw the mercury climb to 35.1C at Kew Gardens in Greater London on Tuesday, 26 May, shattering the previous UK May maximum temperature record of 32.8C set in 1922 and 1944.
Heatwave Gradually Fading
The Met Office has confirmed that the intense heat will subside in the coming days. In an update on Thursday, the national weather agency stated that the heatwave "will gradually reduce in intensity in the coming days, with a transition to more unsettled and cooler weather by the weekend for many." Chief Forecaster Chris Bulmer explained: "We're now starting to see this spell of very hot weather break down. Many areas will begin to feel fresher conditions moving in through Friday and into the weekend as a weak cold front moves southeast and becomes more established across most of the UK by Saturday."
Cooler and Wetter Conditions Ahead
As the heat eases, the weather will turn more changeable, with potential showers and thunderstorms. By the weekend, temperatures are expected to be much closer to the seasonal average, accompanied by rainfall for many regions. Forecast data from WXCharts suggests that maximum temperatures across much of the UK next week will hover around the mid-teens Celsius. However, by Sunday, 7 June, temperatures could plummet to as low as 5C in Scotland, particularly around the junction of the Highlands, Aberdeenshire, and Perth and Kinross at 7am BST.
Regional Temperature Variations
Weather maps indicate maximum temperatures ranging from approximately 7C to 11C across Scotland and England, and between 7C to 10C in Wales at that time. In Northern Ireland, the mercury is expected to climb to between 8C and 10C. Nevertheless, temperatures are forecast to rise to the mid-teens by 1pm, and then surge back to around 21 or 22C across much of the southern half of England by 7pm on Thursday, 11 June. Regions likely to experience the highest temperatures include large areas of the East Midlands, East of England, the South East, and Greater London, with temperatures ranging from around 11C to 20C in other parts of the country.
Long-Range Outlook
The Met Office's long-range forecast covering Tuesday, 2 June to Thursday, 11 June anticipates that during the first week of June, "Atlantic weather systems are expected to move in from the west, bringing showers or longer spells of rain at times." The forecast adds: "The best of the drier conditions are more likely towards the south and east, with more frequent rain across the west and northwest, although there will be drier interludes here also. Drier weather may start to become more dominant as we head into the second week of June. Temperatures will be near-normal overall, with the warmest spots most likely across eastern areas. It will also be breezy at times, especially across western parts, and notably so around exposed coasts."
