Brisk north-easterly winds gusting up to 31mph have brought a temporary respite from London's summer heatwave, with temperatures peaking at 27C on Monday (July 13). Though still near heatwave thresholds, this is significantly cooler than the 36C highs recorded earlier this month.
Wind Gusts and Temperature Forecast
The Met Office forecasts wind gusts between 29 and 31mph before they subside on Tuesday, July 14. Temperatures are expected to rise again, reaching highs of 30C in the capital. This will lead to an uncomfortable night with lows of 19C, nearly marking another 'tropical night' during the record-breaking summer. Wednesday and Thursday are predicted to bring similar highs of 29C, before the heatwave begins to ease on Friday with cloud cover and a peak of 27C.
Weekend Outlook
Cloudy conditions are expected to persist through the weekend, with temperatures sliding to 25C on both Saturday and Sunday. The cooler trend is most pronounced in Scotland, where Aberdeen is expected to peak at 18C on Monday.
Heat-Related Deaths and Climate Change
Researchers from Imperial College London, the Met Office, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found that more than 2,700 people have died from heat-related causes during the hot weather this year. The Met Office stated that both heatwave events in May and late June into early July were exacerbated by global warming.
Dr Mark McCarthy, manager of climate attribution at the Met Office, said: "2026 has been exceptional for the two early-season heatwaves in May and June. These have smashed records that had stood from May 1944 and June 1976 respectively. For the time of year, these events were extreme, even in our warmer climate. However, it is clear that human-caused climate change is leading to more frequent and more intense summer heatwaves. This intensification is driving many impacts, including those affecting human health and mortality and other issues, such as agriculture, effects on transport infrastructure and biodiversity."
