Rain set to bring temporary relief to scorched Britain - but Met Office warns sixth heatwave could hit in September

Want LBC stories before everyone else? Set us as your Preferred Source on Google

Forecasters say low pressure moving in from the Atlantic will bring wind, showers and longer spells of rain to many parts of the UK in the coming days.

However, temperatures are still expected to remain above average, with the Met Office warning there is a chance of another late-season hot spell - particularly in southern England.

In its long-range forecast for 30 August to 13 September, the forecaster said: “There is a chance that late-season hot spells or heatwaves develop, especially in the south."

It would mark the UK’s sixth heatwave of the summer, following a season of record-breaking temperatures, drought warnings and major wildfires.

Read more: Stourbridge residents start to return home after destructive wildfires

Read more: Bus drivers strike as extreme cab heat poses risk of 'fatal crashes'

The fifth heatwave saw temperatures reach 38.1°C, the highest recorded so far this year, while the Government urged people not to use disposable barbecues amid the heightened wildfire risk.

Firefighters have spent the past week battling wildfires across the UK, with major incidents in the West Midlands, South Wales and Hampshire as blazes swept through homes, grassland and countryside.

More wildfires have now struck England and Wales in 2026 so far than in the whole of 2025.

Nineteen homes were destroyed and another 18 damaged when a wildfire tore through more than 500 acres near Stourbridge in the West Midlands on Thursday.

Meanwhile, wildfires continue to spread across South Wales, as the region's fire and rescue service said it was experiencing "unprecedented demand".

Experts have described the current conditions as a “firewave”, driven partly by a heat dome, as high pressure brings sinking air and clearer skies.

The average temperature for the UK in September is 17C but this could be exceeded, the Met Office has predicted in its longer-term forecast, with heatwaves a possibility.

For August 26 to September 9, it said: "High pressure will probably be dominant in the vicinity of the UK during this period, meaning periods of dry weather for many regions.

"However, some more unsettled or changeable interludes are probable at times, bringing showers or some longer spells of rain, although overall rainfall amounts are more likely to be below average than above.

"Temperatures will likely be above average, and some spells of hot weather and heatwaves are possible, especially in the south."

The weather agency said that its longer-term forecasts are less reliable, with more accurate information to come in the weeks ahead.