Met Office confirms date when rain will return to UK after 36C heatwave

Experts believe the heatwave will scorch parts of the country, but rain is only a few days away for some

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07:11, Mon, Aug 10, 2026 Updated: 07:52, Mon, Aug 10, 2026

The weather map for 7am on Thursday (Image: Met Office)

Brits should brace for rain after days of a heatwave later this week as the Met Office has named the date it expects the rain to finally arrive.

Another heateave has been predicted this week, Britain's sixth of the summer, starting from Monday (August 10). Temperatures are forecast to climb to 36C in parts of East Anglia and south-east England by Thursday, metereologists say.

The mercury will steadily rise in England from highs between 27C and 29C on Monday, 30C on Tuesday, and between 32C and 34C on Wednesday. It will peak at 36C on Thursday, according to the Met Offices deputy chief forecaster Mike Silverstone.

He said: After a brief dip on Monday, high pressure will move across the UK before settling to the east, allowing a southerly flow to develop.

A fairly widespread heatwave is likely across large parts of England and Wales, with hot conditions developing in places. The heat is expected to peak for much of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland on Wednesday, with up to 34C possible in parts of central and southern England and southeast Wales. East Anglia and south-east England, however, could see temperatures even higher on Thursday.

Humidity levels are also expected to increase through the week, which may make conditions feel more uncomfortable, particularly overnight.

[The weather map for 10pm on Friday]

Isolated showers start hitting swathes of the country at 10pm on Friday (Image: Met Office)

Most of England is subject to a yellow heat health alert from the UK Health Security Agency until Wednesday, but another alert could follow this due to the high temperatures in some parts of the country.

During the heatwave, the Met Office says the public should wear sunscreen, stay hydrated, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun during the hottest part of the day, and check on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours.

However, heavy rain will hit some on Thursday morning as Brits face a north-south split. While temperatures will pass the 30C mark everywhere south of Ashington in the north east of England, those further north will see heavy rainfall.

The worst will be in the Highlands of Scotland, where more than an inch of rain is forecast to fall at 7am on Thursday (August 13), according to the forecast issued at 5am on Monday.

[The weather map for 1am on August 15]

Rain starts in the north of Scotland but moves southwards early on Saturday (Image: Met Office)

That sets off a period of intermittent rainfall across the UK. While it will be relatively dry for most, the weekend will see showers hit 50 council areas of the country - 30 in Scotland, 11 in Northern Ireland, five in England, and four in Wales.

Again, the worst rain will fall in Scotland, where up to 8mm could fall in an hour in the Borders.

The following 50 council areas will see rain this weekend:

Scotland