Extreme heatwaves this summer have put lives at risk, sparked wildfires and forced millions of households into hosepipe bans.
Temperatures surpassed 34C in July, which was the driest month on record for England and Wales, according to the Met Office.
However, rain, showers and lower pressure could soon bring some relief in August.
Following another heat spike this week, temperatures are forecast to cool down to peaks of just 22C on Thursday in London and 17C in Glasgow.
By the weekend, temperatures are expected to creep back up to the high 20Cs.
Beyond this week, the beginning of August is set to be changeable, switching between rain and showers as well as some drier periods in the south of England.
However, forecasters predict towards mid August, high pressure may become more dominant towards the north or northwest of the UK, with lower pressure at times further to the south or east.
That means there could be a greater chance of thundery showers in southern and eastern areas, and it will certainly be wetter in comparison to recent weeks.
But the Met Office said that rainfall may be variable and some southern areas may still see relatively little.
Temperatures are predicted to remain above average, especially in the south, but the heat may not be as exceptional as the persistent heatwaves we have endured in recent weeks.
From mid to late August, temperatures are still expected to be hotter than usual and rainfall still below normal.
The Met Office has forecast that high pressure is set to remain close to the UK, but there could be more changeable interludes, resulting in Atlantic frontal systems or thundery plumes.
This high pressure also means rainfall amounts overall are more likely to be below normal than above. Temperatures will probably be above average and some spells of hot weather and heatwaves are possible, especially in the south.
It comes as Southern England has seen a particularly dry July, with 1.9mm of rain – just 3 per cent of its long-term average rainfall for the month. This makes it Southern England's driest month ever recorded.
"July 2026 has been a truly remarkable month in the UK's climate record,” Met Office science manager Dr. Amy Doherty said.
“Both England and Wales have provisionally recorded their driest July on record – Wales also its joint warmest. Southern England has seen its driest month ever recorded, and England and Wales have each experienced their sunniest month ever observed.
“The combination of record-breaking dryness, exceptional warmth and unprecedented sunshine has delivered one of the most notable summer months in our historical records."
