Temperatures could peak at 26C as summerlike warmth returns next week

Temperatures could peak at 26C as summerlike warmth returns next week Southern areas are set to experience the highest readings, while most locations across the UK will be warmer than average for late September. The unseasonable heat may persist throughout the week in parts of England and Wales, though it is likely to be only a brief respite for Scotland and Northern Ireland. The high‑pressure system driving the warmth will also suppress rainfall, offering little relief to regions still grappling with drought conditions. **Warm and windy start to the weekend** The changeable pattern that has dominated the past week will continue into the weekend, with blustery winds sweeping in from the Atlantic and gales expected on some western coasts and hills. Saturday will bring sunshine and passing showers for many, but southern England and Wales will lie beneath a weather front draped across the country, producing mostly cloudy skies, intermittent rain or drizzle—particularly in the south‑west. Despite the cloud cover, the air will feel lukewarm and humid as south‑westerly flows draw warm, moist air from the mid‑Atlantic. *Image caption: Over the coming days the jet stream will buckle to the north of the UK allowing high pressure to build.* The markedly autumnal appearance of the current weather charts stems from an unusually strong, straight jet stream racing across the Atlantic. This configuration has placed low‑pressure rain bands to the north of the UK, high pressure to the south, and intensified winds in between, creating the volatile conditions. As the jet stream begins to buckle during the second half of the week, the weather will gradually calm. Early rainfall in the far north and south on Sunday should move away, leaving most areas dry with sunny spells by afternoon. Strong winds in north‑east Scotland are expected to ease, and while sunshine will make conditions pleasant, temperatures will hover near the seasonal average of 15‑21 °C. **Warmth returns next week with break from rain** At the start of next week, high pressure will expand more widely across the UK. Apart from early showers in Scotland and northern England, most regions will see increasing sunshine breaking through during the day. Temperatures will climb a degree or so above Sunday’s levels, and humidity will creep upward. The combination of moist air and light winds over England and Wales on Tuesday may bring misty or foggy starts for some areas. Once the sun breaks through, the sensation will resemble late‑summer warmth. Forecasts indicate temperatures could reach around 25‑26 °C in south‑east England, with many other parts of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and eastern Scotland seeing low‑20s readings. 2026 has already logged a record number of days above 25 °C, surpassing the previous mark of 89 days set in 1959. A weather front advancing into western Scotland is likely to deliver some rain and could become the focal point for a developing low‑pressure system that would bring more widespread rainfall mid‑week across the northern half of the UK. As high pressure remains anchored over the south, much of the region will stay dry and warm through the remainder of the week. While many may welcome the heat, it offers little comfort for declining reservoir and water‑storage levels. Recent rainfall, though welcome, falls far short of what is needed to end the drought affecting most of England and Wales. By Friday morning, Leconfield in East Yorkshire had recorded only 11 % of its typical September rainfall, and Durham just 14 %—both well below the 50‑60 % normally expected by this point. Some models suggest a return of more widespread rain later in the week and into the following period, while others indicate the persistence of high pressure and the possibility of even warmer air. Keep up to date with the latest here and on the BBC Weather app.