The UK's sweltering summer is finally showing signs of a reprieve, but it won't bring much relief to parched regions. Temperatures in some areas are set to drop by as much as 5C, thanks to a shift in wind direction driven by high pressure in the Atlantic.
As winds rotate clockwise around this high-pressure system, northerly air will sweep across the country, hitting northern and eastern Scotland hardest, along with eastern England. Meanwhile, southern England and South Wales might find their cooler period short-lived, with heatwave criteria potentially being met again later this week – Bournemouth has already recorded 15 consecutive days above its 26C threshold.
The dry spell shows no signs of letting up: Wisley in Surrey has endured 31 consecutive dry days, while central England is experiencing its longest drought in three decades. With high pressure dominating the weather for the next week, very little rainfall is anticipated across much of the UK – only north-west Scotland might see some respite from frontal systems.
Isolated showers may occur near coastal areas, but inland regions can expect at least five more dry days. This prolonged dryness raises concerns about water levels and potential impacts on agriculture and the environment.
The Met Office's State of the UK Climate report highlights that these weather patterns align with broader climate trends – the 'new normal' for the UK is warmer temperatures, making heatwaves more frequent and intense, with human-induced warming driving a 0.25C per decade increase in temperature since the 1980s.