UK weather: Experts share when cooler weather is due as we pass peak of third heatwave

Temperatures are due to drop slightly as the UK passes the peak of its third heatwave this summer.

Temperatures soared on Saturday, with Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales all recording their warmest day of the year so far. The Met Office said Aviemore hit 32.2C, adding that Scotland last exceeded 30C on June 13 2023, and that Saturday is only the seventh time since at least 1961 that the same high has been recorded in the country.

Meanwhile, it was 30C in Magilligan, marking the first time the milestone had been reached in Northern Ireland since July 18 2022. And temperatures in Wales hiked to 33.1C in Cardiff’s Bute Park, beating the 2025 record set on Friday of 32.4C at the same location.

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Although England was also hot, with maximum temperatures also hitting 33.1C in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire, it did not break the country’s current record for the year of 35.8C – recorded in Kent at the beginning of July.

Temperatures are forecast to dip marginally on Sunday, with possible highs of 31C, before Monday brings some relief from the baking heat. Met Office meteorologist Kathryn Chalk said: “While we’ve seen the peak of the heat in this heatwave through today it’s still going to be very warm on Sunday before turning cooler for many of us on Monday.

“So we’ve got this ridge of high pressure extending across the UK, helping to keep things settled, but out towards the west an area of low pressure moving through Sunday night and into Monday. So if you’re not a fan of the heat temperatures will be falling away but also bringing some heavy spells of rain, or welcome rainfall, for many of us.”

Amber heat health alerts are in place for the Midlands and southern and eastern England until 9am on Monday, warning of the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions.

As well as the amber alerts, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has yellow alerts in place until Monday for the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humber.

Fire chiefs urged people to stay safe as they warned of the increased risk of wildfires and drowning, with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) asking people not to enter water to try to cool down and urging parents and carers to ensure children are supervised around water at all times.

HM Coastguard also issued safety advice for people heading to the coast, as data from the water incident database shows most drownings happened in July over the last three years.