There are two major weather stories dominating the headlines this week.
The first is another spell of exceptional heat, with temperatures set to climb into the high 30s in parts of England. The second is Wednesday evening’s partial solar eclipse, which promises to be one of the most impressive astronomical events visible from the UK for decades.
Alongside these headline-grabbing events, the longer-term themes of summer 2026 continue to develop: prolonged dry conditions across many areas, growing concerns about drought and wildfires, and a season that is increasingly likely to enter the record books.
Heat building through midweek
High pressure remains the dominant weather feature, continuing to bring settled conditions to much of England and Wales. As this area of high pressure drifts eastwards, winds are turning more southerly, allowing hotter air from continental Europe to spread across the UK.
Wednesday will bring widespread hot weather, with temperatures reaching 33°C to 35°C in parts of central England and Wales. The warmth will extend much further north too, with many parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland seeing temperatures in the mid to high 20s.
The peak of the heat is expected on Thursday. Current forecasts indicate temperatures could reach 36°C, 37°C or even 38°C across parts of central, eastern and southeastern England. While some fresher air will begin edging into northwestern areas, much of England will remain exceptionally hot.
By Friday, temperatures should begin easing from the west, with fresher conditions gradually spreading across the country ahead of the weekend.
⚠️⚠️ Amber weather warning issued ⚠️⚠️
— Met Office (@metoffice) August 11, 2026
Extreme heat across eastern parts of England
Thursday 0900 – 2359
Latest info 👉 https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs
Stay #WeatherAware ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/9AgYp9zLdq
Why the Amber Heat Warning has been issued
An amber extreme heat warning has been issued for parts of central, eastern and southeastern England on Thursday, covering the areas most likely to experience the highest temperatures.
Unlike routine summer warmth, temperatures approaching 38°C have the potential to cause more significant impacts. Risks include disruption to transport infrastructure, increased pressure on healthcare services and heightened health concerns for vulnerable people as well as the wider population.
One factor that may slightly reduce the severity of impacts is that this particular heatwave is not expected to be as humid as some earlier hot spells this year. Humidity levels are still expected to be noticeable, but forecasts suggest conditions will be less oppressive than during June’s heatwave.
Nevertheless, temperatures of this magnitude remain unusual in the UK and warrant extra care, particularly during the hottest part of the day.
Another remarkable chapter in an exceptional summer
The upcoming heatwave is only the latest episode in what has already been an extraordinary summer. Forecasters have highlighted that the focus should perhaps be less on exactly how many individual heatwaves have occurred and more on the remarkable number of exceptionally hot days recorded across the season as a whole.
Many locations have experienced prolonged periods above their local heatwave thresholds, while the summer has consistently delivered temperatures well above average.
Current figures suggest summer 2026 is on track to become the warmest UK summer on record. The seasonal mean temperature so far stands well above the long-term average and ahead of the previous record. Only modestly above-average temperatures would be needed through the remainder of August for a new record to be established.
READ MORE: Warmest UK summer on record “increasingly likely” as temperatures stay well above average
Dry weather remains a growing concern
While the sunshine has been welcome for many, the persistent lack of rainfall is becoming increasingly problematic. Rainfall since late June has been well below average across many areas, particularly in England and Wales.
The consequences are already being felt, with drought conditions, hosepipe restrictions and an elevated wildfire risk affecting some regions.
The forecast offers little immediate relief. While Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to see further spells of rain over the coming days, much of England and Wales will remain dry. Even where isolated showers occur, they are unlikely to provide the prolonged rainfall needed to significantly improve ground conditions.
There are tentative indications of more changeable weather later in the weekend, but confidence remains relatively low and recent forecasts have repeatedly seen wetter spells fail to develop as strongly as first suggested.
Eclipse viewing prospects look promising
Away from the heat, attention will turn to the skies on Wednesday evening as a major partial solar eclipse becomes visible across the UK. It will be the most significant eclipse visible from the UK since 1999 and the best opportunity to view such an event until 2081.
Coverage will vary by location, ranging from around 88% in the far northeast of Scotland to approximately 96% in Cornwall. Peak obscuration will occur between shortly before 7pm in northern areas and shortly after 7.15pm further south.
Weather conditions look favourable for many viewers. Most of England and Wales are expected to enjoy clear skies and good visibility, offering excellent prospects for seeing the eclipse. Eastern Ireland should also experience plenty of sunshine.
Further north and west, however, cloudier conditions will make viewing more difficult. Northern Ireland and much of Scotland are likely to see thicker cloud, although occasional breaks may still allow some glimpses of the spectacle.
Anyone planning to watch the eclipse should do so safely using certified eclipse glasses or a suitable pinhole projector and should never look directly at the Sun.
Keep up to date with weather warnings, and 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.
