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The UK’s weather has seen a record-breaking summer so far, with the mercury breaking 30C for at least 12 days this month as part of the latest heatwave.

However temperatures now appear to be cooling down for most parts of the country, dropping to the low twenties and late teens further north, ending the summer’s third heatwave for many parts of England and Scotland.

Many Britons may already be asking when the next heatwave could be on the cards, whether they are preparing to bask in the sunshine or check how soon they need to invest in an air conditioning unit.

Heatwave conditions are met when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold, which varies by UK county between 25C and 28C.

Parts of the UK are experiencing heatwave conditions still on Monday while temperatures have gone down for many (Met Office)

ITV’s weather service has predicted that another heatwave could begin at the start of August, remarking on an area of high pressure building in the first weekend similar to the type of weather seen earlier this month.

The BBC weather service meanwhile remarked that a temperatures were expected to remain above average during late July and August, so further heatwaves could not be ruled out.

The Met Office told The Independent that there are no signs in their forecast at the moment of a widespread heatwave, but there was time for another one to develop.

The forecaster’s midterm predictions for between 25 July and 3 August show that the weather could be changeable with some rain spreading southeast across part of the UK at the start, with sunny spells interspersed.

The heatwave threshold varies across the country between 25 and 28C (Met Office)

Towards the term of the month, the Met Office is already seeing hints of high pressure returning to resume the dry conditions much of England and Wales has seen.

“Winds will be mostly light or moderate, but occasionally fresh or strong around some coasts, mainly in the north. Temperatures will be near or above normal, warmest in the south, and perhaps becoming very warm again by the start of August,” the forecast read.

It comes after the forecaster warned last week that the extreme climate conditions seen by Brits this summer are set to become the new normal.

The Met Office has warned these extreme climate conditions could become the new norm (Getty)

Mike Kendon, Met Office climate information scientist, said: “2025 was the UK’s warmest year on record, the sixth time this record has been broken in the 21st century so far. The last four years are all in the top five warmest years.

“With warming at around 0.25C per decade since the 1980s, it seems likely this record will be broken again in a matter of years.”

There have already been 28 days in 2026, consecutive and non-consecutive, when 30C has been exceeded somewhere in the UK: seven in May, eight in June and 13 in July.

The record for the number of 30C-plus days in a calendar year is 34, which was set in 1995.

Additionally, the UK as a whole has seen below average rainfall this summer. Up until 15 July, parts of eastern and north-eastern England had 26 per cent of their total expected summer rainfall.

Rainfall so far this summer has been below average across the UK as a whole, but there has been large regional contrast.

A drought was declared across much of Britain last summer but it has not developed as quickly this year due to heavy rainfall during the autumn and winter.

The UK’s Centre for Ecology and Hydrology says flash droughts are "likely to happen more often, and be more intense" due to sudden changes between rainy and dry weather.

The lack of rainfall is making life harder for farmers. Paul Tompkins, deputy president of the National Farmers' Union, told the BBC that those in agriculture are "working around the clock to harvest crops which have come early, keep fruit and vegetables watered, and care for their livestock.”

Met Office forecast for the next five days:

Today

Rather cloudy today across northern Scotland and Northern Ireland with some light showers. Dry with plenty of warm sunny spells elsewhere. Feeling very warm in the south with light winds.

Tonight

Cloudy in the north tonight with outbreaks of light drizzle in places. Largely dry elsewhere with clear spells and a few fog patches. Showers possible in East Anglia.

Wednesday

Staying cloudy and cool in the far north on Wednesday with light showers possible. Dry and sunny elsewhere with some very warm sunshine.

Outlook for Thursday to Saturday

Staying settled through to Friday with patchy cloud and showers in the north. Very warm in the south. Outbreaks of more widespread rain push into the north on Saturday.