Sunday 21st June 2026

Heatwave incoming – with the record June temperature almost certain to be beaten by some way. 38’C? Maybe even more.

I don’t seem to have any suitably sunny photographs that I haven’t used, so you’ll have to have one of mine from London. Thanks, me.

So it’s quite an extraordinary airmass that is developing for Western Europe, and the heat is going to intensify – western France may widely reach 45’C which is kind of insane.

Here, 38’C is the more likely peak, maybe 39’C – though I’d suggest there is a small chance of the all-time record of 40.2’C being broken. In June. 6 weeks away from the average maximum temperatures.

Were this exact same set-up and airmass repeated at the end of July, then we’d be looking at maybe 42’C, I guess. It really is that extraordinary.

So the general picture is high pressure developing and a small low heading to the west of Portugal/Spain which will pump up the heat from Africa, and does the work of intensifying the heat.

Sunday is a very pleasant day, long spells of sunshine – some high cloud around and some bits of fair-weather cloud too. Hot, around 30’C. Mostly clear skies overnight, fairly warm – down to around 17’C.

Monday sees long spells of sunshine for much of the day, though some cloud possible at times – perhaps more so later in the afternoon with a 5% chance of a heavy, thundery shower developing. Hot, though breezy too – around 31’C, though could be a couple either side. Also humid. Some cloud in the evening with a small chance of a thundery shower – clear skies in the second half of the night. A warm night, around 19’C.

Tuesday most likely sees long spells of very hot sunshine all day. There is maybe a 5-10% chance of a thundery downpour developing – but unlikely. Reaching around 37’C, though a degree or so either side is possible. Humid too though a bit of a breeze. A very warm night, no lower than 22’C.

Wednesday sees long spells of sunshine all day. Very hot, likely reaching 37’C, maybe 38’C – an outside chance of more. Again also humid, and a light breeze. Clear skies overnight, down to around 22’C – ish.

By Thursday, the low pressure that caused the intensification of the heat will probably be approaching the UK.

So a little more uncertainty, but most likely a mostly sunny day with just a bit more cloud around – and a small chance of a thundery downpour later, say 10% chance. Temperatures most likely in the range of 35’C to 38’C – though the Met Office model took us to 40’C this morning, and I do quite rate their model, so one to bear in mind. Humid also though breezier. Another warm/very warm night likely overnight.

By Friday we should be able to decompress a little as temperatures return to normal levels of hot – say 28’C to 32’C – that kind of range. More likely sunny with some cloud, though not for certain.

Into next weekend, most likely it stays quite hot, somewhere between 26’C and 30’C – sunny spells at times but an increased chance of thundery downpours.

There’s no strong signals after that, some suggestions that July starts fairly changeable, some weak weather fronts bringing cloud/showery rain on some days though more days likely to be very pleasant with very warm/quite hot sunshine.

Good luck. Stay hydrated.