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Parts of Britain could swelter through a sixth and final heatwave of the year next week with temperatures soaring to 29C, forecasters revealed today.
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forecasters → see → 29C
Southern England faces the warmest weather with temperatures set to climb into the mid to high-20s by the middle of the week and upper-20s by the end.
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temperatures → face → end
The Met Office said conditions would be 'notably warm for late September' and 'offer a final taste of summer before autumn becomes more firmly established'.
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autumn → say → summer
It comes after the UK experienced five widespread heatwaves during late spring and summer and prolonged dry weather that has put huge strain on water supplies.
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that → come → supplies
The past few weeks have been unsettled with period of rain interspersed with sunny spells, but a change to warmer will begin with developments over the Atlantic.
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change → intersperse → Atlantic
A deep area of low pressure is expected to form well to the west of the UK, which is expected to drag warmer air up from the continent and sub-tropical Atlantic.
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which → expect → continent
High pressure will then build across the UK alongside this warmer air from the end of this weekend, with settled conditions developing as temperatures climb day by day.
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temperatures → build → day
The highest temperatures are most likely across southern parts, where 'current forecasts suggest highs could reach the upper 20Cs by the end of next week'.
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highs → suggest → week
Salisbury is shrouded in early mist this morning before warmer conditions build next week
A beautiful autumn day on the River Thames at Caversham in Berkshire this afternoon
Meteorologists said confidence is lower further north, but much of the UK is likely to see a period of warmer-than-average weather with high pressure in control.
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much → shroud → control
The Met Office says a heatwave is defined as three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold.
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temperatures → say → threshold
The threshold varies across the UK - between 25C across Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and South West England, and 28C in London and its surrounding counties.
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threshold → vary → London
Forecasters are unsure whether thresholds will be met, but said the 'prospect of one final heatwave before the end of the month is certainly not out of the question'.
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prospect → meet → question
It comes after an exceptional summer that saw hosepipe bans activated for 30million people and drought declared for nearly three-quarters of England and all of Wales.
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drought → come → Wales
By July 25, the UK had already recorded more days above 30C than during the whole of summer 1976, when the temperature exceeded that level on 22 days.
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temperature → record → days
By the end of this summer, the total had reached 33 days.
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total → reach → days
Temperatures also reached 35C during May, June, July and August - the first time this has occurred.
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this → reach → May
The UK's average summer temperature was 16.5C, which was 1.9C above the long-term average and surpassed the previous record set in 2025.
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which → surpass → 2025
England and Wales also recorded their warmest summers by mean temperature – while the extreme heat was accompanied by exceptionally dry conditions.
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heat → record → conditions
Environment Agency officials said today that the UK will need above-average rainfall over the next seven months for all areas to move out of drought by spring.
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areas → say → spring
The Government has urged water companies to carry on water efficiency measures as the drought conditions condition, even with the recent September rainfall.
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conditions → urge → rainfall
It comes after the latest meeting of the National Drought Group of ministers, officials, water companies, farming leaders, anglers and conservation experts.
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It → come → ministers
Following yesterday's session, the panel said there were no changes in drought status for areas across England, with three-quarters of the country still in drought.
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quarters → follow → drought
The recent wetter conditions have helped rivers recover and only 15 per cent are now classed as below normal levels, officials said.
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officials → help → levels
Twelve out of the 31 reservoirs or reservoir groups the Environment Agency monitors are currently less than half full, while eight are classed as exceptionally low.
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eight → monitor → reservoirs
Groundwater levels also continue to recede, with officials saying it will take months of sustained wet weather to see them fully recharged.
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them → continue → weather
Research from the agency showed the country will need 120 per cent of typical rainfall over the next seven months for all areas to be considered out of drought.
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areas → show → drought
East Anglia and Devon and Cornwall are expected to still be in drought by the start of April 2027 in the most likely weather scenario, according to the analysis.
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Anglia → expect → analysis
Elsewhere, the data showed roughly a one-in-four chance that about half of the country will still be in drought next spring.
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half → show → drought
There is also currently about a 1 per cent chance of a severe drought in the coming months, the agency said.
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agency → be → months
The El Nino global weather event is set to put the UK at greater risk of a wet, stormy autumn, which could help ease drought conditions but also lead to flooding.
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which → set → flooding
The Aporia
