Met Office weather warning: UK braced for fourth heatwave of 2025 as temperatures soar past 30C this week
Temperatures in parts of the UK are set to climb to 35C this week, with much of central and southern England likely to meet heatwave criteria by midweek, according to the Met Office.
A combination of high pressure and a southerly airflow will drive temperatures above 30C for some on Monday, with the mercury expected to peak in the mid-30s in London on Tuesday.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Tom Crabtree said: “Warmth is the focus in the forecast in the first half of this week, with temperatures likely to peak on Tuesday around the mid-30s, but remaining above average in the second half of the week, particularly further to the southeast.
“The exception to the widely warm conditions will be northwest Scotland on Monday, where showers will be more frequent. Warmth will develop there from Tuesday with temperatures peaking in the mid to high 20s.”
The UK Health Security Agency has issued Yellow and Amber Heat Health Alerts for the health and social care sectors in England. Warm nights are also expected in the southeast early in the week, with a chance of a tropical night – when temperatures do not drop below 20C.
While much of the week will be dry, there is a chance of thundery rain. Crabtree said: “Outbreaks of rain, some of which could be thundery, are possible in southern and western areas for a time on Monday evening spreading north and east through the night… The main signal for more frequent thundery showers arrives from the south late on Wednesday and into Thursday.”
The UK Met Office defines a heatwave as at least three consecutive days when temperatures exceed a region-specific threshold, roughly 25CC in northern Scotland and around 28C in parts of southern England. Current forecasts suggest much of England and Wales will meet this benchmark from Monday to Wednesday, signalling the fourth heatwave of summer 2025.
UK 5-day weather forecast
Monday (August 11)
Dry, hot and sunny in the south, turning cloudy from the west. Cloudy across much of the north with outbreaks of rain in Scotland. Heavy showers possible in the west, perhaps with thunderstorms. Overnight, rain clearing north of Scotland, leaving a largely dry night with clear spells. Scattered showers in southern and central areas could be thundery. Warm.
Tuesday (August 12)
Cloud and showers moving north, with increasing hot sunshine in England and Wales. Very hot in central and western areas. Breezy around coasts.
Largely dry and settled, staying very warm and humid. Some thunderstorms possible, mainly Wednesday and Thursday.