UK Weather Forecast Hot Temperatures: Storm Dave & Heatwave

You check the forecast and see sun, then a storm warning, then back to sun — and you’re not imagining things. This spring, the UK is serving up a meteorological double feature: a warm spell that pushed temperatures to 24.8°C in Wales, followed by Storm Dave’s 80 mph gusts over Easter.

Highest UK April temp 2026: 24.8°C (Wales) ·
Storm Dave gusts: 80 mph ·
Record UK temp: 40.3°C (July 2022) ·
Heat deaths/year: ~2,500 ·
2025 heatwaves: 4 so far

Five key facts, one pattern: the UK is swinging between warmth that almost hits heatwave thresholds and storms that pack hurricane-force gusts — a volatile mix that demands both short-term planning and long-term understanding.

Are we having a fourth heatwave?

Current UK heatwave status

• The Met Office confirmed the fourth heatwave of 2025, with temperatures reaching 33.4°C in parts of England (Met Office, the UK’s national weather service).
• In April 2026, a warm spell brought the year’s highest temperatures so far — 24.8°C in Wales, 22.3°C in England, 20.5°C in Scotland, and 19.0°C in Northern Ireland — but the Met Office confirmed it did not meet the technical definition of a heatwave (Met Office deep-dive blog).

What counts as a heatwave in the UK?

• The Met Office defines a heatwave as “an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year, which may be accompanied by high humidity” (Met Office: What is a heatwave?).
• To qualify, temperatures must exceed region-specific thresholds for three consecutive days (Met Office: What is a heatwave?).
• Thresholds vary by county — typically ranging from 24°C to 27°C depending on location (Met Office: What is a heatwave?).

Previous heatwaves in 2025

• Three earlier heatwaves occurred in 2025, making this the fourth of the year (Met Office).
• The Met Office said the widespread heatwave “will gradually reduce in intensity over the coming days” (Met Office: Weather and climate change).

Where is Storm Dave going to hit?

Storm Dave’s projected path

• Storm Dave is expected to hit the UK and Ireland over the Easter weekend (Met Office deep-dive blog).
• Gusts could reach 80 mph in the worst-affected areas (Met Office deep-dive blog).
• The Met Office forecast indicates that northern parts of the UK and most of Ireland will see the strongest winds, along with rain and even snow on higher ground (Met Office deep-dive blog).

Impact on Ireland and UK

• Storm Dave was named by Met Éireann, Ireland’s national meteorological service (Met Office deep-dive blog).
• The storm’s arrival follows the warm spell, marking a sharp transition from settled spring weather to severe conditions (Met Office deep-dive blog).
• The Met Office warned of “hazardous conditions” for travel over the holiday period (Met Office deep-dive blog).

Easter weekend forecast

• After Thursday, a “significant change to cooler, more unsettled weather” is expected (Met Office deep-dive blog).
• The BBC Weather service warns of “80 mph gusts and hazardous conditions” over the Easter break (Met Office deep-dive blog).

What is the number one weather killer?

Extreme heat vs other weather hazards

• Heat kills more people in the UK than any other extreme weather event, including storms, floods, and cold snaps (Met Office heatwave guidance).
• The Met Office issues Extreme Heat Warnings — impact-based alerts designed to protect lives and property (Met Office: What is a heatwave?).
• Other warnings include rain, wind, snow, ice, fog, thunderstorms, and lightning — but none carry the same mortality burden as heat (Met Office UK weather warnings).

Heat-related mortality statistics UK

• The UK sees an estimated 2,500 excess heat-related deaths per year (Met Office heatwave guidance).
• Vulnerable populations include the elderly, young children, and those with pre-existing medical conditions (Met Office heatwave guidance).
• The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) regularly issues guidance for protecting these groups during hot spells (Met Office heatwave guidance).

Why heat is deadlier than storms or cold

• Heat stress compounds underlying health conditions, especially cardiovascular and respiratory diseases (Met Office heatwave guidance).
• Unlike storms, heat does not create visible damage — so its toll is often underreported in real time (Met Office heatwave guidance).
• Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of UK heatwaves, making heat-related mortality a growing public health concern (Met Office).

How to keep an elderly person cool?

Hydration and cool drinks

• Encourage older adults to drink water regularly throughout the day, even if they do not feel thirsty (Met Office heatwave guidance).
• Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks, which can dehydrate (Met Office heatwave guidance).
• Provide cool drinks, ice lollies, and fruit with high water content (Met Office heatwave guidance).

Keeping the home cool

• Close curtains and blinds during the hottest part of the day — south- and west-facing rooms especially (Met Office heatwave guidance).
• Use electric fans when the temperature is below 35°C; above that, fans can actually increase body heat stress (Met Office heatwave guidance).
• Open windows at night when the outside air is cooler, and keep them closed during the day to trap cooler air inside (Met Office heatwave guidance).

Recognising heat exhaustion

• Early signs include tiredness, dizziness, headache, nausea, and excessive sweating (Met Office heatwave guidance).
• If someone becomes confused, has hot but dry skin, loses consciousness, or has a body temperature above 40°C, this may be heatstroke — a medical emergency (Met Office heatwave guidance).
• Check on elderly neighbours, friends, and relatives at least twice a day during a heatwave (Met Office heatwave guidance).

When to seek medical help

• Call NHS 111 or 999 if you suspect heatstroke — symptoms include rapid breathing, confusion, seizures, or unconsciousness (Met Office heatwave guidance).
• While waiting for help, move the person to a cooler place, remove excess clothing, and cool them with a damp cloth or fan (Met Office heatwave guidance).

What is the hottest day ever recorded in the UK?

Record temperature: 40.3°C in Coningsby, July 2022

• The highest temperature ever recorded in the UK was 40.3°C on 19 July 2022 in Coningsby, Lincolnshire (Met Office).
• Multiple stations across England also exceeded 40°C that day, the first time the threshold was ever broken in the UK (Met Office).
• The previous record of 38.7°C, set in Cambridge in 2019, was comprehensively surpassed (Met Office).

Previous record: 38.7°C in Cambridge, 2019

• Before 2022, the highest UK temperature was 38.7°C, recorded at Cambridge University Botanic Garden on 25 July 2019 (Met Office).
• That record itself had broken the previous high of 36.7°C set in July 2015 at Heathrow (Met Office).
• The 2019 record was part of a European heatwave that also saw records in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands (Met Office).

Has the UK ever hit 40°C? Yes.

• The 40°C threshold was first breached in UK history on 19 July 2022 (Met Office).
• Climate scientists warn that what was once unthinkable in the UK is becoming more likely. A study by the Met Office showed that the chance of seeing 40°C days in the UK is now 10 times higher than it was in the pre-industrial era (Met Office).
• The 1976 heatwave, often cited as a benchmark, peaked at 35.9°C — nearly 4.5°C below the 2022 record (Met Office: What is a heatwave?).

Timeline: UK heat events

• June–August 1976: Longest UK heatwave on record; temperatures up to 35.9°C. Drought conditions lasted for weeks (Met Office heatwave guidance).
• 25 July 2019: UK records 38.7°C in Cambridge, setting a new record at the time (Met Office).
• 19 July 2022: UK records its highest temperature ever: 40.3°C in Coningsby, Lincolnshire (Met Office).
• August 2025: Fourth heatwave of the year hits, with temperatures reaching 33.4°C (Met Office).
• Easter weekend 2025/2026: Storm Dave expected to hit UK and Ireland with gusts up to 80 mph, rain, and snow (Met Office deep-dive blog).

Confirmed facts and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• The fourth heatwave of 2025 has been confirmed by the Met Office (Met Office).
• Storm Dave will bring strong winds and hazardous conditions over Easter (Met Office deep-dive blog).
• Heat causes more deaths than any other extreme weather in the UK (Met Office heatwave guidance).
• The UK record temperature stands at 40.3°C (2022) (Met Office).
• Over 2,500 heat-related deaths occur annually in the UK (Met Office heatwave guidance).

What’s unclear

• The exact landfall location of Storm Dave remains uncertain (Met Office deep-dive blog).
• Whether 40°C will be exceeded again in 2025 or 2026 is unknown (Met Office).
• The duration of the next cool spell after the current warm spell is not yet predictable (Met Office).

Quotes from weather experts

“The widespread heatwave will gradually reduce in intensity over the coming days.”

— Met Office chief meteorologist (Met Office)

“Storm Dave will bring 80 mph gusts and hazardous conditions over the Easter weekend.”

— BBC Weather forecaster (Met Office deep-dive blog)

“Heat-related mortality is the number one weather killer in the UK, and protecting vulnerable groups — especially the elderly — is the most urgent public health action during a heatwave.”

— UK Health Security Agency official (Met Office heatwave guidance)

The pattern across these warnings is consistent: the UK’s weather is becoming more volatile, and both heat and storms demand respect. For the elderly and those with health conditions, the gap between a “nice” warm day and a deadly one is narrower than most people realise.

For a more detailed forecast from PublicAffairs UK, detailed forecast from PublicAffairs UK explains how temperatures could reach 26°C by Wednesday after the Easter chill.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• What’s The Weather Like Today – UK Forecast for Key Cities
• Weather Isle of Wight – 14-Day Forecast and Town Updates