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UK and Ireland face unsettled weather following record heat
The United Kingdom is preparing for a period of unsettled weather, with the Met Office forecasting a wet and windy start to the weekend. A band of rain is expected to move southeast across the UK on Saturday, affecting areas including Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, the Midlands, and East Anglia, before sunnier conditions arrive on Sunday.
This shift follows a record-breaking summer in 2026, which the Met Office confirmed as the UK’s hottest on record, with an average mean temperature of 16.5C between June and August. Despite the upcoming rain, experts warn that the weather may not end existing drought conditions. The Environment Agency reports that large parts of England and Wales remain in drought, and sustained winter rainfall will be necessary to replenish groundwater levels.
In Ireland, Met Éireann is also predicting changeable conditions. Forecasts indicate a blustery period with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers, leading into a wet Saturday followed by a drier, sunnier Sunday.
Entities
Environment Agency · Ireland · Met Office · Met Éireann · United Kingdom
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The average mean temperature between June and August reached 16.5C. ca.news.yahoo.com · www.independent.co.uk
- [● 2 SOURCES] At the peak of the August heatwave, nearly 75% of the UK was experiencing drought. ca.news.yahoo.com · www.independent.co.uk
- [● 2 SOURCES] A band of rain is expected to move southeast across the UK on Saturday. ca.news.yahoo.com · www.independent.co.uk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Saturday is forecast to be a wet day in Ireland. extra.ie
- [● 2 SOURCES] Summer 2026 was the hottest on record in the UK. ca.news.yahoo.com · www.independent.co.uk