Temperatures have been dropping from the west, with fresher conditions slowly spreading further east through the weekend.

Despite the change on the way, those further east in England retain the warmth the longest and will be in for another very warm night where temperatures for some don’t drop below 20°C, which has resulted in an extension in the Amber warning into Sunday morning.

Met Office Chief Forecaster Dan Harris said: “While many in the UK will already be noticing a drop in temperatures, those in eastern England especially are in for another uncomfortably warm and humid night on Saturday, prolonging the potential for health-related impacts.

“By Sunday, fresher air from the Atlantic will be almost country wide; the far east of East Anglia hanging on to very warm but less humid weather followed by a much fresher nighttime for all. Temperatures will return much nearer to average for all by the start of next week.”

The transition in the weather pattern has seen thunderstorms develop for some, and there’s an ongoing chance of these on Saturday, particularly in the southeast where if they develop they could be vigorous with frequent lightning and hail.

Next week sees a mixed picture for the UK’s weather, with a combination of cloud and sunny spells, as well as influxes of rain from the west at times.

Records broken in unprecedented heatwave

The UK provisionally broke its maximum temperature record for a third consecutive day on Friday, with 37.3°C reached at Santon Downham in Suffolk.

This exceeds the figures reported on 24 and 25 June and, if confirmed via the verification process, would become the new daily maximum air temperature record for the month of June.

A number of other weather stations have also exceeded the previous record of 35.6°C which was reached on 28 June 1976 and 29 June 1957.

Met Office Chief Forecaster on the day Andy Page said: “Friday marks the peak of the heatwave in terms of temperatures and the third consecutive day of record-breaking June heat.

“This exceptional heat has been unprecedented for June and is another marker on how climate change is shifting the dial on temperature extremes in the UK.”

This week has also seen Wales set a new daily maximum temperature record for June, with 35.9°C at Bute Park, Cardiff, set on 25 June. The same station set the night-time highest minimum temperature record for the UK and for Wales, with 23.5°C reported overnight from Wednesday into Friday.

England also provisionally set a highest minimum temperature record for June on the same night, with 23.0°C in Plymouth.

Northern Ireland provisionally equalled its warmest June day on record with 30.8°C at Castlederg on 25 June, putting it level with the peak figure on 30 June 1976. Northern Ireland has provisionally broken its highest minimum temperature record overnight Thursday into Friday, with 19.1°C the figure reached at Murlough.

Verifying records

At the conclusion of the heatwave, the verification process will begin for any new national records. The equipment and site will undergo a rigorous validation process before a decision is made on officially inducting any new figures into the meteorological record books.

This process will include site inspections and verification checks of the equipment used to measure the temperature.

In order for a value to be treated as an official national record, the Met Office follows national and international best practice and guidance. If the figure doesn’t meet the required standards, it will be rejected as an official national record.

Find out more about the process with the verification for May’s temperature records.

Staying safe in the water

Samantha Hughes is the National Water Safety Partner at the RNLI. She said: “It’s important to remember that the water is still cold. Entering it unexpectedly can lead to cold water shock, causing a sudden increase in breathing and heart rate, which may trigger panic.

“If you find yourself struggling in the water, remember to Float to Live: tilt your head back so your ears are submerged, relax and control your breathing. You may need to gently use your hands to help you stay afloat, and it’s ok if your legs sink—everyone floats differently.

“Where possible, always choose a lifeguarded beach, and swim between the red and yellow flags. In a coastal emergency remember to call 999 for the coastguard.”

You can find the latest forecast on our website, on YouTube, by following us on X and Facebook, as well as on our mobile app which is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from the Google Play store. 

A change in the weather is on the way