Brits face 26C heat tomorrow as the Met Office has predicted a huge surge in temperatures across the UK – weather maps suggest several counties face a scorcher
19:22, 30 Apr 2026Updated 20:20, 30 Apr 2026
Anomaly maps for tomorrow show where temperatures are expected to rise well above the seasonal average.(Image: WX CHARTS)
The Met Office says temperatures could surge to 26C within hours as the UK basks in a hot spell.
Despite “showers” coming in the west and south-west tomorrow, with the rain then spreading northeastwards, the Met Office says conditions will be feeling “much warmer” in the east. It will “feel humid for many”, the national weather agency said.
The Met Office’s forecast this afternoon predicted highs of 26C to come in southern areas tomorrow. The mercury is expected to rise to 24C in the north, it added. Saturday is expected to be a warm one too, with highs of 23C in the south and 20C in the north.
Temperature anomaly maps for tomorrow show the UK covered in areas of deep red. This indicates where temperatures are expected to rise well above the seasonal average.
As many as 38 counties could see temperatures of 20C or above(Image: WX CHARTS)
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The ECMWF weather model predicts highs of 23C tomorrow, with the best of the temperatures coming in the south-east of England, in and around London. It also shows afternoon highs of 22C and 23C in the Midlands and South Yorkshire.
In total, the ECMWF model suggests as many as 38 counties will see temperatures hit 20C or above. Unfortunately for people in Northern Ireland and Wales, they are all in either England or Scotland.
UK counties facing 20C or above on FridayScotlandSutherlandRoss-shire and CromartyshireNairnshireMorayshireBanffshireAberdeenshireBerwickshireRoxburghshireEnglandNorthumberlandDurhamYorkshireLancashireCheshireShropshireStaffordshireLeicestershireNottinghamshireDerbyshireLincolnshireNorfolkSuffolkCambridgeshireNorthamptonshireWarwickshireWorcestershireHerefordshireOxfordshireBuckinghamshireBedfordshireWiltshireBerkshireHampshireSurreyKentSussexEssexMiddlesexDevon
BBC Weather says for Friday: “A band of cloud and showers will sweep into many western parts tomorrow. Eastern areas will be sunny and warm, particularly in south-east England. Showers will later push east into north-east England.”
It adds for the weekend: “Over the weekend, it will become unsettled and cloudier with frequent scattered showers, or even longer spells of rain on Sunday, for England and Wales, with a chance of thunder. Cloudier with lighter showers further north. Monday will be mainly cloudy with some lingering spells of rain. Some sunny breaks may develop towards the far south and north-west.”
Despite the sweltering temperatures, this warm spell is not expected to constitute an official heatwave. An official heatwave is declared when temperatures reach or exceed the heatwave threshold for three consecutive days.
The heatwave threshold varies from 25C to 28C across the UK. It stands at 28C in the south-east of England where temperatures tend to be warmer, and drops to 25C the further north you go.