UK faces third 2026 heatwave with temps up to 35°C

The United Kingdom is experiencing its third official heatwave of the year, with temperatures forecast to reach as high as 35 degrees Celsius in parts of southern England this week. The hot spell, which began over the weekend, is expected to last into the coming weekend, affecting much of England and Wales and extending into some areas of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

According to the Met Office, parts of southeast England have already met the official heatwave criteria, which requires temperatures to meet or exceed a location-specific threshold for three consecutive days. As the high pressure system persists, more regions are expected to reach their thresholds in the coming days. Forecasts indicate temperatures in southern England could climb to around 32C on Tuesday, July 7, rising to 33C on Wednesday and 34C on Thursday, with isolated spots potentially hitting 35C on Friday and Saturday.

Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Steven Keates stated that while this is the third heatwave of 2026, it is not expected to be as intense or record-breaking as the exceptional heat experienced in June, when a provisional UK record for the month of 37.7C was set. He noted that nighttime...