High pressure will continue to exert a strong influence on the UK’s weather through much of this week, bringing prolonged spells of dry, settled conditions to many areas.
While some rain will affect northwestern parts of the UK at times, much of England and Wales can expect another predominantly dry week, with temperatures climbing steadily before peaking later in the week.
Temperatures on the rise
A subtle shift in wind direction as high pressure drifts eastwards will allow increasingly warm air to spread across the UK. After a slightly fresher start to the week, temperatures are expected to rise day by day, with Tuesday becoming warmer than Monday for many locations.
The driest and warmest conditions will be found across England and Wales, where sunshine will be widespread. By contrast, northwestern areas will see more cloud and occasional spells of rain, particularly across parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Heatwave number ... (we've lost count at this point) is developing this week, primarily across England and Wales
— Met Office (@metoffice) August 10, 2026
But it won't be hanging around, as cooler air looks likely to arrive towards the weekend pic.twitter.com/tAXnyPe9K9
Tuesday and Wednesday: Sunshine for many
Tuesday will see outbreaks of rain across northern Scotland, although these are not expected to be particularly heavy. Elsewhere, much of the UK will see dry weather with long spells of sunshine and light winds. Temperatures could reach around 30°C in the Channel Islands and parts of central and southern England, while remaining pleasantly warm further north.
Conditions remain largely similar on Wednesday, although there will be more rain around across Scotland and Northern Ireland, with a chance that some outbreaks could become locally heavy and perhaps thundery, especially in northwestern Scotland. Many parts of England, Wales and eastern Scotland will remain dry and sunny. Temperatures will continue to rise, with highs of 33°C to 34°C possible in southern England and temperatures reaching the mid to high 20s further north.
Eclipse viewing prospects
Wednesday evening brings the opportunity to witness the UK’s most significant solar eclipse since 1999. Weather conditions look most favourable across much of England and Wales, where largely clear skies should provide excellent viewing opportunities. Cloudier conditions in northwestern Scotland and western parts of Northern Ireland may obscure views at times. The partial eclipse is expected to occur between around 7pm and 7:15pm, depending on location. As always, never look directly at the sun and use certified eclipse glasses or indirect viewing methods.
Peak heat likely on Thursday
Thursday is set to be the hottest day of the week. While further showers remain possible across northwestern Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland, much of the UK will stay dry with lengthy sunny spells.
Temperatures could reach 36°C or 37°C in parts of central and southeastern England, making it exceptionally hot. An Amber heat warning has been issued for parts of England from 9am to midnight on Thursday. Temperatures are expected to bring an increased risk of heat-related health impacts, particularly for vulnerable people. Disruption to transport and infrastructure is also possible, alongside a heightened risk of heat exhaustion, dehydration and sunburn.
The warmth will extend much further north as well, with high 20s possible across parts of Scotland and temperatures around 26°C or 27°C in Northern Ireland. Although very hot, the air is not expected to be as humid as during some earlier heatwaves this summer.
READ MORE: UK heatwaves: How the records tell a changing story
Fresher conditions arriving later
Friday should mark the beginning of a gradual change, with winds turning more westerly and bringing slightly fresher air. There will likely be more cloud around, together with a few showers in western areas, although many places will remain dry. Scotland and Northern Ireland will continue to see the greatest chance of rainfall. Temperatures will begin to ease, particularly in western regions, although southeastern England could still remain very hot.
Looking towards the weekend, much of England and Wales is expected to stay largely dry on Saturday, while northern areas see a mixture of showers and drier interludes. Temperatures will be noticeably lower than during the peak heat of midweek. There are signs that wetter conditions could become more widespread by Sunday, although confidence in this part of the forecast remains lower at present.
Limited rainfall for many
Despite occasional rain affecting northwestern areas, rainfall totals are expected to remain relatively low across much of the country. Many areas of England and Wales are likely to see very little rain throughout the week, continuing the recent pattern of dry weather.
For many, the key themes of the week ahead will be sunshine, rising temperatures and another spell of very hot weather, before fresher conditions gradually arrive towards the weekend.
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.
