Climbing temperatures and potential thunderstorms - a week of contrasting conditions
The UK is set for a week of contrasting weather, with a combination of increasingly warm and humid conditions in the south and east, and more unsettled weather affecting the north and west at times.
High pressure builds across mainland Europe, allowing heat to intensify there. This will compete with areas of low pressure close to the northwest of the UK, resulting in fluctuating conditions across the country.
Temperatures are expected to rise through the week, with parts of England potentially reaching the high twenties by Thursday and possibly approaching 30°C in the southeast on Friday, depending on cloud cover and other variables.
Alongside the warmth, there will also be spells of rain, particularly across northern and western areas, and an increasing chance of thunderstorms later in the week.
A Yellow Heat-Health Alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office for the East Midlands, East of England, London and the southeast. The alert comes into force at 15:00 on Wednesday 17 June 2026 and remains in place until 20:00 on Monday 22 June 2026.
Early week overview
Many areas will see a fine and largely dry start to the week, with light winds and hazy sunshine. Northern coastal areas will be cloudier and cooler, with a chance of light rain at first.
During Monday, some showers and isolated thunderstorms will move eastwards across central and southern parts of the UK. It will feel warm in southern and southwestern areas.
By Tuesday, a north-south split in conditions is expected. Central, eastern and southeastern areas will remain largely dry with variable cloud and sunny spells, with temperatures possibly reaching around 27°C in isolated spots.
Further north and west, conditions will be cloudier with patchy outbreaks of rain. More persistent rain is likely to spread in from the southwest later in the day.
Dry for many this afternoon with spells of hazy sunshine ☀️
— Met Office (@metoffice) June 15, 2026
A few showers will drift across central and eastern England, with rain developing in Northern Ireland 🌧️
Feeling warm in the south pic.twitter.com/ATCWzLvt6f
Midweek conditions
On Wednesday, unsettled conditions will continue for parts of England and Wales, with outbreaks of rain at times and the potential for weather warnings. East Anglia and the southeast are expected to remain largely dry.
Scotland and Northern Ireland will see a mix of sunny spells and showers. Winds will generally be light to moderate, although fresher around some northwestern coasts. Temperatures will be near average in the north and west but remain warm in the southeast.
Turning warmer and more humid in the south
Thursday will bring a fine and dry start for much of England, east Wales and eastern Scotland, with the best of the sunshine towards the southeast.
At the same time, cloud and rain will become more extensive across Northern Ireland, western Scotland and west England and Wales, with some heavy rain possible.
Temperatures on Thursday will remain near normal in the north and west but become warm to very warm and increasingly humid in the southeast, with highs into the upper 20 degrees Celsius possible. There is also a small chance of an isolated thunderstorm later in the day.
On Friday, further rain is expected across parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northwest England on Friday, gradually becoming brighter later with a few showers. Elsewhere, much of England and Wales will start largely fine, though there is an increasing risk of thunderstorms developing, particularly in the southeast.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster, Tom Crabtree said: “This week’s contrasting weather of both heat, rain, and potential thunderstorms is a result of a low pressure system influencing the UK from the northwest. The southerly flow stalls a front over the west of the UK whilst allowing temperatures to build in the southeast.
“Friday is set to be the warmest day of the week, but it’s important to note that peak temperatures could be impacted by cloud cover. Temperatures are likely to range from 26 to 28°C, with the potential to approach 30°C in parts of southeast England.
“Elsewhere temperatures will remain closer to average but could be warm at times in parts of Wales and the west Midlands. Of course, the picture for the weekend will become clearer closer to the time, so keep an eye on our forecasts as the week goes on.”
Staying safe in cold water
People heading to the coast should be mindful that sea surface temperatures are not as high as they would be in mid-summer. The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) has free, accessible water safety resources available, as part of drowning prevention week this week.
You can find water safety advice on our website and in the refreshed Met Office app, now featuring a dedicated beach forecast with tide times, wave heights and sea-surface temperatures, as well as guidance on UV and pollen levels.
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.
