UK Weather: Late Summer Warmth Set to Return With Temperatures Reaching 26C

Late summer warmth is set to return to parts of the UK next week, with temperatures potentially peaking at 26C, according to forecasts from BBC Weather. Following a changeable and brisk week influenced by an active Atlantic jet stream, high pressure is building to bring drier, warmer, and more settled conditions. While southern regions of England will experience the highest temperatures, most locations across the country are expected to see conditions that are warmer than normal for late September.

Lead Weather Presenter Matt Taylor reported that the warmth could persist throughout the entire week for some areas in England and Wales. However, the anticipated temperature boost is expected to be more short-lived for Scotland and Northern Ireland. The incoming high pressure system will also result in limited rainfall for regions that are currently experiencing ongoing drought conditions, raising concerns among water storage managers.

The recent autumnal weather pattern has been driven by a brisk and straight jet stream crossing the Atlantic, which kept low pressure systems to the north, high pressure to the south, and generated strong winds in between. During the latter half of the weekend, however, the jet stream is projected to buckle to the north of the UK, allowing high pressure to establish itself more firmly across the country.

On Sunday, early rain affecting the far north and south of the UK is expected to clear, leaving most regions dry with afternoon sunny spells. Strong winds in north-east Scotland are also forecast to ease. Although conditions will feel pleasant in the sunshine, temperatures on Sunday will generally align closer to the seasonal average, which typically ranges from 15C to 21C.

As the new week begins, high pressure will build more widely across the UK. Aside from early rain in Scotland and northern England, most locations will experience increasing sunshine during the day. Temperatures are expected to rise slightly compared to Sunday, accompanied by creeping humidity levels. Light winds and more humid air across England and Wales into Tuesday may lead to misty and foggy starts for some areas before the sunshine breaks through.

Temperatures could peak at approximately 25C or 26C in south-east England, while reaching the low 20s in many other parts of England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and eastern Scotland. BBC Weather noted that 2026 has already broken records for the number of days exceeding 25C, having surpassed the previous record of 89 days set in 1959 during the previous week.

Despite the pleasant conditions for those enjoying the late summer warmth, the forecast presents challenges for water resources. The persistent high pressure keeping southern areas dry is unfavorable for declining reservoir and water storage levels. While recent rainfall has occurred, it remains well short of the volumes required to alleviate drought conditions across most of England and Wales.

Precipitation figures highlight the stark deficit, with Leconfield in East Yorkshire having received only 11% of its normal September rainfall by Friday morning, and Durham registering just 14%. These figures fall significantly below the 50% to 60% that would typically be expected by this point in the month.

Meanwhile, conditions may vary further north. A weather front moving into western Scotland is expected to introduce rain and could spark a developing low pressure system, potentially bringing more widespread rainfall mid-week across the northern half of the UK. As high pressure maintains its grip on the south, southern areas are expected to stay largely dry and warm through the remainder of the week.

Looking further ahead, forecasting models diverge regarding conditions toward the end of the week and into the following week. Some projections indicate the potential for rain returning more broadly, while others suggest that high pressure will persist, possibly bringing even warmer air.