The Met Office has said parts of Britain could see a sixth heatwave of the year next week, with temperatures potentially reaching 29C in southern England as high pressure builds and warm air is drawn up from the continent and sub-tropical Atlantic. Forecasters described the conditions as "notably warm for late September", offering a final burst of summer warmth before autumn sets in properly, though they cautioned it remains uncertain whether official heatwave thresholds will actually be met.

Southern England is expected to see the highest temperatures, climbing into the mid-to-high-20s by midweek and the upper 20s by next weekend, while confidence is lower for northern areas. A heatwave requires three consecutive days at or above a set threshold, ranging from 25C in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and south-west England to 28C in London and the South East. The forecast follows an exceptional summer with five earlier heatwaves, 33 days above 30C, and record average temperatures, alongside widespread drought and hosepipe bans affecting 30 million people; officials say three-quarters of England remains in drought, with reservoirs around 20% below normal levels despite recent rain.