UK to see brief weekend rain after weeks of heat and drought

BBC Weather data show large swathes of England recorded 0% of the rainfall they would normally expect in July. Many people in the south will have to wait until Sunday for rain, and even then there will not be much.

By 16 July, southern England had logged 13 consecutive days above heatwave criteria, Merryfield in Somerset reached 30.6C, and the UK had seen 12 straight days at or above 30C, the longest such spell since 2006.

BBC News recorded 35.5C in Surrey on 9 July as the third heatwave of the year continued. A rare red weather warning was in place on 24 June for parts of southern England, the Midlands and south Wales, with the risk of serious illness or danger to life as southern England was forecast to see highs of around 37C.

Met Office analysis on 14 July found summer 2026 had already brought three distinct heatwaves and frequent temperatures into the mid-30s. BBC Weather forecasts a more changeable second half of summer, with spells of rain in some long-range forecasts, but temperatures are still expected to stay largely above average in late July and August, and further heatwaves cannot be ruled out.

Nuffield Trust fellow Bea Taylor said, "A&E attendances are usually high in summer, and June's figures follow this trend, but there is no doubt that this year's heatwaves are putting additional strain on the NHS." The UK Health Security Agency links climate change and adverse weather to UK summers, and its guidance for healthcare professionals focuses on preparing for hot weather and looking after older adults in extreme heat.

The Health and Safety Executive guidance gives employers legal duties to protect workers from extreme heat, and tells workers to speak up if temperatures are uncomfortable.