A cold front sweeping across the United Kingdom on Thursday is expected to end recent record-breaking heat and usher in cooler temperatures, along with scattered rain in some areas, just ahead of the weekend.
The shift comes after a mid-week heatwave peaked on Wednesday, with temperatures reaching 35.2°C in Writtle, Essex.
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The Met Office also confirmed that a new June temperature record of 38.0°C was set last month in Lingwood, Norfolk, following formal verification.
Drought Declared Across Parts of UK
The intense heat prompted the Environment Agency to declare an official drought across more than half of England on Wednesday.
Officials cited low river flows and increased wildfire risks affecting infrastructure, while hosepipe bans now impact over 20 million residents.
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Drought conditions have also been reported in North Wales and the Upper Severn river basin by Natural Resources Wales last week.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency identified extreme water scarcity in parts of eastern Scotland, though Northern Ireland remains unaffected.
Forecasts indicate the incoming cold front will push temperatures below heatwave thresholds for most central regions.
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However, parts of East Anglia and south-east England may still see temperatures near 30°C for one final day before cooling down.
