The Met Office has dismissed speculation about a fifth heatwave hitting the UK, despite claims that temperatures could reach 30°C during the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend. The weather service insists the approaching high-pressure system will not deliver the extreme heat some forecasters are predicting.
The UK has already experienced four heatwaves this summer, with temperatures peaking at 35.8°C in Faversham, Kent. Summer 2025 is shaping up to be one of the warmest on record, with average temperatures from June to mid-August standing at 16.2°C - a significant 1.6°C above the long-term average.
High pressure brings different outcome
The Met Office explained that while high pressure is building across the UK, its positioning north of Scotland means it will not trigger another heatwave. The system is "acting like a boulder in a stream, diverting the jet stream and influencing our weather in more subtle ways."
One branch of the jet stream is being pushed north into the Arctic Circle, while another dips southwards, drawing in low pressure areas. This configuration will bring some showers to the southwest on Monday night into Tuesday, with the rest of the country remaining largely dry but not necessarily warm.
Record summer continues warming trend
Emily Carlisle, a Met Office scientist, 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."
The persistent high temperatures result from a combination of dry ground from spring, recurring high-pressure systems, and unusually warm seas around the UK. These conditions create an environment where heat builds quickly and lingers, even outside official heatwave periods.
Forecasting disagreement emerges
However, some independent weather experts disagree with the Met Office's assessment. Claims suggest that Bank Holiday weekend temperatures could exceed 30°C across parts of England, creating a split in forecasting opinions about the potential for another heatwave.
The warmest UK summers on record remain tightly clustered, including 2018 as the warmest, followed by 2006, 2003, 2022 and 1976. With two weeks of summer remaining, conditions could still change, but current data strongly suggests 2025 will join this elite group of record-breaking years.
Sources used: "Yorkshire", "dailystar.co.uk", "Express", "leicestermercury.co.uk", "Wales Online" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.