A notable warm-up is set to take hold across the UK this weekend, with temperatures climbing as we move from Saturday into Sunday and beyond into early next week.
While the early part of the weekend brings a brief interruption to the recent warmth, the overall trend is for increasingly hot conditions to develop, particularly across southern and eastern areas.
The evolving weather pattern reflects a transition from a more unsettled setup towards one dominated by high pressure. This shift will allow warmer air to become established once more, setting the stage for what could become a significant period of heat as we head into next week.
Saturday: fresher with cloud and showers
Saturday begins on a noticeably fresher note compared with the preceding day, as a cold front gradually pushes eastwards across the UK. This front will introduce a band of cloud and some outbreaks of rain, particularly affecting eastern Scotland and parts of northeastern parts of England during the morning.
For many areas, the start to the day will feel rather grey, with showery rain at times. Elsewhere, scattered showers are also possible, although these will tend to be lighter and more intermittent.
As the day progresses, conditions will steadily improve from the west. Brighter intervals will develop, with sunny spells becoming more frequent through the afternoon. However, it will not be entirely dry everywhere, as a few showers may linger, particularly across northwest Scotland and occasionally in Northern Ireland.
It's turning hotter, with many places reaching heatwave conditions🌡️
— Met Office (@metoffice) June 18, 2026
This is due to high pressure bringing sinking, warming air
It brings record-breaking heat to parts of Europe, with some of it reaching the southeast of the UK on Sunday and spreading more widely on Monday 🥵 pic.twitter.com/eHXOtM10E9
Temperatures on Saturday will be lower than on Friday, reflecting the passage of the cold front and a shift to a westerly airflow. Despite this, it will still feel warm in places, with highs reaching the upper 20s Celsius across parts of East Anglia and the southeast. Further west, and along many coasts, it will be somewhat cooler with a fresher feel.
Sunday: high pressure brings fine weather
By Sunday, the cold front will have cleared away to the east, allowing high pressure to build more firmly across the UK. This will bring a marked improvement in conditions for most areas, with widespread dry weather and increasing amounts of sunshine.
Under the influence of high pressure, the air will be sinking and stabilising, which generally suppresses cloud formation and rainfall. As a result, much of the country can expect a fine day, with prolonged sunny or hazy conditions developing.
There are a few exceptions. The far north of Scotland may remain breezier, with some cloud at times, particularly across Shetland. In addition, there is a small chance that thunderstorms developing over the near continent could drift close to parts of southeast England and East Anglia, although this remains uncertain and should be monitored.
Around some coasts, especially those exposed to onshore winds, mist or low cloud may linger, keeping temperatures slightly lower than inland areas.
Temperatures climbing once more
Temperatures will rise again on Sunday as the warmer air mass becomes re-established. Across southern and eastern England, values are expected to exceed 30°C, signalling a return to hot conditions.
Further north and west, temperatures will also climb but remain more moderate, generally in the high teens to low 20s Celsius. The contrast between north and south will therefore remain a feature of the weekend weather.
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Coastal areas across the UK are likely to stay a little cooler than inland locations, particularly where winds come in from the sea. This will be most noticeable along eastern coasts if an easterly breeze develops.
Looking ahead: heat building into next week
Beyond the weekend, the overall pattern suggests that temperatures will continue to trend upwards, with the potential for more widespread and intense heat as we move into the early part of next week. A Met Office Amber extreme heat warning has been issued and comes into force early on Monday until late on Tuesday, with temperatures possibly reaching towards the mid-30s Celsius for some.
While weather fronts may still brush parts of the north at times, bringing occasional cloud and patchy rain, the dominant signal is for settled and increasingly warm conditions across much of the country.
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