Sunday 9th August 2026

Next heatwave incoming, and we should reach 35’C again, if not a little higher.

Some things I’ve read about this summer – assuming we get to 35’C this week (almost certain), this will be the 4th month in a row somewhere has reached that temperature in the UK. Previously never happened in more than two separate months in a year.

This week will see the 30th day of 30’C or higher in London this year – the previous record was just 20 days in a year (this probably applies to Reading also, give or take, but the statistic I read was about London).

Of course, we beat the May record and June record temperatures by some way. August’s record is 38.5’C, recorded in 2003 – not impossible that is broken this week though probably we’ll come short.

There are likely more records/statistics that I don’t currently have to mind. Quite an extraordinary summer. And more to come.

Thanks to Debbie for the photograph.

The general set-up sees high pressure weakly in control – low pressure to our north-east bringing a north-westerly flow, yet we’ll still get to 31’C today.

So today sees good spells of sunshine, a bit of cloud around at times. Hot, reaching 31’C, maybe a tad more. Mostly clear skies overnight and a fairly warm night, down to around 16’C.

Monday morning sees a bit of cloud around as a very weak weather front sinks south, though still some sunny spells. Sunnier in the afternoon and less hot – around 27’C. Mostly clear skies overnight, down to around 13’C.

Tuesday sees long spells of sunshine and just a bit of fair-weather cloud. Quite hot, around 27’C, maybe 28’C. Mostly clear skies overnight, down to around 14’C.

By Wednesday, high pressure is focused to our east which allows us to tap into the hotter air to the south.

Wednesday then sees long spells of sunshine, very little cloud. Hot, reaching around 32’C. Mostly clear skies overnight and a warmer night, gradually getting down to around 18’C.

Thursday is probably the peak of the heatwave, long spells of sunshine – almost certainly getting to 34’C or 35’C but I wouldn’t rule out anything up to 39’C if alignment with the heat to our south is perfect. To stress, around 35’C is the more likely outcome. Likely humid too. A warm night, eventually down to around 20’C.

Friday should keep the heat, more likely at around 34’C or 35’C, unlikely higher but not impossible, perhaps a little lower. Probably humid too. Long spells of sunshine most likely though a very weak weather front will bring a bit of cloud later in the day, and a small chance of a thundery shower. A warm night likely – an outside chance of a thundery shower.

Some uncertainty for next weekend – a shallow low pressure may form nearby over the continent which makes it quite uncertain.

Likely Saturday is quite hot but much less so than Wednesday – Friday, some sunny spells, but that chance of a shower or two.

Sunday could be anything – probably temperatures back in the warm category rather than hot, sunshine possible, cloud possible, heck even showers or rain possible.

As I said, a lot of uncertainty for next weekend due to that probable nearby shallow low pressure system developing, and it will be a few days before the models get a handle on it, I suspect.

Into the week after, probably high pressure builds again so plenty more sunny, warm and dry weather but also a greater chance of some showers on some days or the odd weather front making it through.

Towards the end of August, the more likely outcome seems to be often but not always sunny and dry, generally very warm/quite hot with the odd short heatwave possible. But also some thundery showers may develop, along with the odd Atlantic weather front.

I still expect September to be warmer, sunnier and drier than normal.

Of course, it is hurricane season and it is always possible one changes the expected weather patterns – though hurricanes are less likely to form during El Niño conditions, and I don’t recall one forming so far this season, although early doors.

As always, good luck with the heatwave (number 5?), I feel like I’m getting better prepared now! Lots of salad in the fridge for the week ahead.