Heat dome means UK temperatures could rise again

Temperatures in the UK could soon begin to rise again as recent heatwave conditions in mainland Europe threaten to impact climates further north.

Hot weather was felt again in France, Spain and Italy this month as warmer conditions from North Africa were effectively pushed upwards, creating a high-pressure ‘heat dome’.

In a recent update, the Met Office said: “The change begins with developments over the Atlantic. A deep area of low pressure is expected to form well to the west of the UK. Although this system is not forecast to move directly across the country, it is likely to drag warmer air up from the continent and subtropical Atlantic.

“High pressure will then build across the UK alongside this warmer air during the latter part of the weekend and into next week. This would mean a transition to predominantly dry and bright conditions, with sunny spells becoming more widespread.”

Temperatures in the UK could reach the upper 20s by the end of next week, the forecaster said, offering a “final taste of summer”.

“The prospect of one final heatwave before the end of the month is certainly not out of the question,” it added.

However, the weather authority advised the warmer weather could also be cut short by the expected arrival of a colder front from the west, the timing of which remains uncertain.

After this, conditions are likely to become “changeable”, according to the Met Office’s longer-term forecast, “with spells of rain and showers interspersed with some short-lived spells of more settled weather and temperatures returning to near normal overall”.

Back-to-back heatwaves were experienced in the UK and most of Europe this year, bringing exceptionally dry conditions and severe threats to public health. Summer 2026 was the UK’s hottest on record, according to Met Office figures, with June, July and August showing a mean temperature of 16.5C.

A heat dome develops due to a large area of high pressure establishing over a region and remaining for an extended period, the Met Office explained.

This high pressure causes air to sink through the atmosphere, compressing and warming it. The phenomenon also suppresses cloud formation, allowing strong sunshine to reach the ground.

The heat dome that developed over western Europe at the start of September saw temperatures exceed 40C in parts of Spain and Portugal, far above the seasonal norm.

While the dome has now begun to dissipate, lingering hot air in the region continues to see temperatures reach above average levels for September.

Variable amounts of cloud with sunny spells at first. However, cloud and rain already affecting Northern Ireland will move eastwards during the day, though southeastern areas will stay mostly dry. Windy, with coastal gales in the North West. Temperatures near average.