Met Office rules out fifth UK heatwave, but summer 2025 may be one for the record books
The Met Office has poured cold water on speculation of a fifth heatwave striking the UK this summer.
After weeks of sweltering conditions, many had expected the late-August high pressure to trigger another burst of extreme heat. But forecasters say this system will behave differently, unlike the 32°C scorcher recently felt in the South East England heatwave.
The national forecaster explained: “As we move into the final weeks of summer, high pressure is once again asserting itself across the UK.
However, unlike previous spells, this system is positioned to the north of Scotland, which means it won’t be ushering in a heatwave. Instead, it’s acting like a boulder in a stream, diverting the jet stream and influencing our weather in more subtle ways.”
That subtlety includes showers brushing the South West early next week, while much of the UK remains largely dry. Not hot. Just settled.
Provisional figures already show this season has been exceptional. According to the Met Office, the UK’s mean temperature between 1 June and 17 August stands at 16.2°C, which is 1.6°C above the long-term average.
This is the Met Office verdict on reports of a fifth heatwave for the UK – https://t.co/Ur30K8wfB8 pic.twitter.com/WmCTLpNnQF
— WalesOnline (@WalesOnline) August 21, 2025
And the forecaster admits there’s every chance this summer could still turn out to be the warmest on record.
Emily Carlisle, climate scientist at the Met Office, said: “It’s looking like this summer is on track to be one of the warmest, if not ‘the’ warmest, since the series began in 1884.
What’s striking is the consistency of the warmth. June and July were both well above average and even outside of heatwaves, temperatures have remained on the warmer side.”
She pointed to several drivers – dry spring soils, dominant high pressure, and unseasonably warm seas surrounding Britain – all helping heat build and linger.
So far, the peak temperature recorded this year is 35.8°C. Hot, but not record-breaking. Still, it’s the background warmth that stands out.
The UK’s hottest summers currently on record include 2018, 2006, 2003, 2022 and 1976. This year could soon join that list.
Carlisle added: “With two weeks still to go, things could of course change, but the data so far strongly suggests we’re heading towards one of the UK’s hottest summers on record.”
So, no fifth heatwave on the horizon. But summer 2025 may yet be remembered as one of Britain’s warmest ever.
