TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United Kingdom (UK)'s third heatwave of the summer has come to an end across much of the country, but forecasters say another spell of hot weather could arrive as August begins, even as unsettled conditions dominate the final days of July.
The recent heatwave saw temperatures exceed 30 degrees Celsius in several parts of England and Scotland for nearly two weeks, making it one of the longest hot spells of the year. While rain and cooler conditions have now returned to many areas, meteorologists say above-average temperatures are likely to persist into next month.
According to the Met Office's latest long-range forecast, weather conditions will remain changeable through the remainder of July, with showers and bands of rain affecting many regions before high pressure potentially returns around the turn of the month.
"As we approach the turn of the month, there are hints that high pressure could return for a time, which would mean dry conditions resuming, especially in the south," the Met Office said.
The national weather agency added that temperatures during the period from late July into early August are expected to remain "near or above normal," with southern parts of the country potentially becoming "very warm again" as August begins.
Looking further ahead, the Met Office said higher pressure appears more likely to dominate much of August, particularly across southern England, increasing the chances of settled weather and additional hot spells.
"Temperatures will very likely remain above normal, with potential for further hot spells, particularly in the south," the forecast said.
Despite those projections, forecasters caution that another official heatwave has not yet been confirmed.
As reported by The Independent, the Met Office currently sees no immediate signs of a widespread fourth heatwave, although it says there is still sufficient time for one to develop as weather patterns evolve during August.
Other forecasting services have been more optimistic. ITV Weather has suggested another heatwave could begin in early August, while BBC forecasts indicate above-average temperatures are likely to continue into next month.
Under the Met Office's official definition, a heatwave is declared only after an area records temperatures at or above its local threshold for at least three consecutive days. Those thresholds vary across the UK, ranging from 25C in parts of northern England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to 28C in London and surrounding counties.
The UK's third official heatwave of 2026 began on July 4, with some areas remaining above their threshold temperatures for as long as two weeks.
In Bournemouth, Dorset, temperatures stayed above the local heatwave threshold of 26C for 14 consecutive days before cooler weather arrived.
The summer has already been one of Britain's hottest in recent years.
Earlier this year, the first heatwave began on May 22, when Kew Gardens in London recorded 35.1C, the highest May temperature on record.
A second heatwave followed in late June, peaking at 37.7C in Lingwood, Norfolk, setting a new record for the hottest June day ever recorded in the UK.
The Independent noted that temperatures have exceeded 30C somewhere in the country on 28 separate days so far this year, underscoring the unusually warm summer despite regional variations.
The return of rain has brought some relief following prolonged dry conditions, but forecasters say the unsettled weather is expected to be temporary.
The Met Office predicts rain will spread southeast across much of the UK during the coming days before further showers move through next week. Northern areas could also experience isolated summer thunderstorms, while winds are expected to remain generally light to moderate.
Once high pressure rebuilds, warmer and drier weather is forecast to return first across southern England before potentially extending to other parts of the country.
The prolonged warmth and lack of rainfall have also increased pressure on water supplies.
Several water companies, including Thames Water, Southern Water, South East Water, Anglian Water, Affinity Water and Cambridge Water, have introduced or announced temporary hosepipe bans affecting millions of households.
Under the restrictions, customers are prohibited from using hosepipes to water gardens, wash vehicles, fill paddling pools or top up hot tubs.
Thames Water's restrictions, covering more than 10 million customers across London, the Thames Valley and the Home Counties, take effect on July 23.
The Environment Agency has also warned that large parts of southern, central and eastern England are moving closer to official drought status after experiencing the driest spring on record, compounded by three successive heatwaves.
The continuing dry conditions have raised concerns among farmers about crop yields and water availability, even as meteorologists forecast periods of rainfall before warmer weather potentially returns in August.
Read: Is There Another Heatwave Coming to London? 6-Day Hot Spell on the Way
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