Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Dan Suri, said: "After a prolonged spell of hot, dry and settled weather, some will see a temporary change this weekend as weather fronts move south-east across the UK. While some areas, particularly in the north and west, will see rain and showers, many places are likely to receive relatively little rainfall. For much of southern England, dry conditions are expected to remain the dominant feature, with temperatures recovering quickly next week and the potential for very warm or locally hot weather to return."  

Currently heatwave conditions only continue in isolated parts of England and Wales, with both Exeter Airport and Usk having recorded 19 consecutive days above their respective heatwave thresholds, and with both locations expected to reach 20 consecutive days today (Friday 24th July). Although conditions become less certain beyond that as cooler air gradually arrives from the west.  

Rain arrives but dry conditions remain for many 

Cloud and rain will affect parts Scotland, Northern Ireland, northern England and north Wales for part of Saturday. More widespread rain and drizzle follows eastwards across the UK during Saturday night and Sunday morning, showers then following in the north later Sunday where they could be locally heavy. 

Rainfall totals are expected to be mostly small away from western and north-western Scotland where 10-20mm of rain is likely, with locally higher totals in the most exposed locations.  

Sunday is expected to be the coolest day of the weekend for many areas, with temperatures returning closer to average for the time of year and a little below average in some places.  

Return to very warm weather in the south next week 

This more unsettled spell is not expected to last long for much of southern UK with dry weather and sunny periods likely to return on Monday and continue into midweek. Further north, it will be cloudier with further showers or longer outbreaks of rain.  

Temperatures are expected to recover quickly in the south. Many parts of England and Wales are likely to return to the mid to high twenties Celsius early next week, with the potential for temperatures to reach 30°C again in southern and eastern England by Tuesday. Conditions in the southeast could become very warm or locally hot, with the possibility that some locations may once again reach heatwave criteria, potentially making this the fourth heatwave episode of the year for parts of the UK. 

Looking further ahead 

Toward the end of July and into early August, Southern areas are likely to remain relatively settled and very warm, while northern parts of the UK could still see some periods of rain or showers.  Early August could see a change to more widely unsettled conditions, but details of this are very uncertain at this stage. 

Staying safe in hot weather 

With very warm conditions continuing across parts of the UK, people should continue to take sensible precautions in the heat, including staying hydrated, avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun during the hottest part of the day and checking on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours. 

The latest forecast is available on the Met Office website and app. 

READ: Learn more about UV and sun health 

READ: Check the Met Office pollen forecast and find out more about pollen here 

Keeping safe in the water 

If you're planning on enjoying the water, here are three simple ways you can help keep yourself safer:   

  1. Check the water temperature: our seas and river temperatures are low enough to cause cold water shock when 15°C or lower 
  2. Wear a wetsuit if you plan on spending any length of time in the water 
  3. Wearing a life jacket or swimming buoy can increase your chances if you experience cold water shock  

With breezier conditions expected to develop in southern areas, there is an increased risk for those heading onto the water. 

Lee Pooley, Head of Safety at Paddle UK said: "Offshore winds are incredibly deceptive because the water near the shoreline often looks perfectly calm, flat, and inviting. However, the moment you paddle out, a breeze blowing from the land can rapidly sweep a paddleboarder out to sea faster than they can paddle back. 

"Our rescue data with the RNLI consistently shows that offshore winds are a primary cause of emergency callouts. We strongly advise everyone to check the weather and wind direction before heading out, and if the wind is blowing away from the shore, do not go." 

You can find water safety advice on our website and in the Met Office app, which now features 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. 

Summer skies