The UK is set for a week of contrasting weather, with a combination of increasingly warm and humid conditions in the south and east, and more unsettled weather affecting the north and west at times.
High pressure is building across mainland Europe, allowing heat to intensify there. This will compete with areas of low pressure close to the northwest of the UK, resulting in fluctuating conditions across the country.
Temperatures are expected to rise through the week, with parts of England potentially reaching the high twenties by Thursday and possibly approaching 30°C in the southeast on Friday, depending on cloud cover and other variables.
Alongside the warmth, there will also be spells of rain, particularly across northern and western areas, and an increasing chance of thunderstorms later in the week.
A Yellow Heat-Health Alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office for the East Midlands, East of England, London and the southeast. The alert comes into force at 15:00 on Wednesday 17 June 2026 and remains in place until 20:00 on Monday 22 June 2026.
Early week overview
Many areas will see a fine and largely dry start to the week, with light winds and hazy sunshine. Northern coastal areas will be cloudier and cooler, with a chance of light rain at first.
During Monday, some showers and isolated thunderstorms will move eastwards across central and southern parts of the UK. It will feel warm in southern and southwestern areas.
By Tuesday, a north-south split in conditions is expected. Central, eastern and southeastern areas will remain largely dry, with variable cloud and sunny spells, and temperatures possibly reaching around 27°C in isolated spots.
Further north and west, conditions will be cloudier, with patchy outbreaks of rain. More persistent rain is likely to spread in from the southwest later in the day.
Midweek conditions
On Wednesday, unsettled conditions will continue for parts of England and Wales, with outbreaks of rain at times and the potential for weather warnings. East Anglia and the southeast are expected to remain largely dry.
Scotland and Northern Ireland will see a mix of sunny spells and showers. Winds will generally be light to moderate, although fresher around some northwestern coasts. Temperatures will be near average in the north and west but will remain warm in the southeast.
Turning warmer and more humid in the south
Thursday will bring a fine and dry start for much of England, east Wales and eastern Scotland, with the best of the sunshine towards the southeast.
At the same time, cloud and rain will become more extensive across Northern Ireland, western Scotland, and western England and Wales, with some heavy rain possible.
Temperatures on Thursday will remain near normal in the north and west but become warm to very warm and increasingly humid in the southeast, with highs in the upper twenties Celsius possible. There is also a small chance of an isolated thunderstorm later in the day.
On Friday, further rain is expected across parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northwest England, gradually becoming brighter later, with a few showers. Elsewhere, much of England and Wales will start largely fine, though there is an increasing risk of thunderstorms developing, particularly in the southeast.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree said: “This week’s contrasting weather of heat, rain and potential thunderstorms is a result of a low-pressure system influencing the UK from the northwest. The southerly flow stalls a front over the west of the UK whilst allowing temperatures to build in the southeast.
“Friday is set to be the warmest day of the week, but it’s important to note that peak temperatures could be affected by cloud cover. Temperatures are likely to range from 26 to 28°C, with the potential to approach 30°C in parts of southeast England.
“Elsewhere, temperatures will remain closer to average but could be warm at times in parts of Wales and the West Midlands. Of course, the picture for the weekend will become clearer closer to the time, so keep an eye on our forecasts as the week goes on.”