On August 25, 2025, the United Kingdom found itself at the center of a weather spectacle, as Wales and Northern Ireland shattered their previous August Bank Holiday temperature records. In Hawarden, Flintshire, the mercury soared to an astonishing 29.6C, officially marking it as the hottest spot in the UK for the day and breaking the previous Welsh record of 26.5C, which had stood since 1991. Not far behind, Gogerddan also hit a remarkable 28.1C. Meanwhile, Magilligan in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, logged a sweltering 24.5C, nudging past its previous best of 23.8C set back in 1983. These figures, confirmed by the Met Office and widely reported by outlets such as BBC and Sky News, underscored a summer already on track to be among the hottest ever recorded in the UK, with no fewer than four heatwaves declared so far.
For context, while these numbers are impressive, they still fall short of the all-time UK August Bank Holiday Monday record of 33.2C, set at London’s Heathrow Airport and Cambridge Botanic Garden in 2019. Scotland’s highest for the same holiday remains 25.6C, recorded at Kelso in 1984. This year, although Scotland enjoyed its own warm spell—Charterhall saw 27.1C—no new records were set there, nor in England.
The heatwave was felt keenly across Wales, with Hawarden’s 29.6C overtaking even the previous warmest spot in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, which had reached 29.3C. The warm, sunny weather drew crowds to beaches and parks, prompting authorities to urge beachgoers to choose locations with lifeguards, especially with the forecast of large waves on the horizon. According to Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell, “On Monday it will be a very warm and sunny picture for most. It will start to go downhill and rain will start to move in for Northern Ireland into the afternoon.”
But as quickly as the heat arrived, change was already in the air. The culprit? The remnants of Hurricane Erin, a storm that had previously battered the Cape Verde islands with winds reaching a staggering 160 mph. In just over 24 hours, Erin had morphed from a category one to a category five hurricane, before weakening and transitioning into a typical area of low pressure after leaving tropical waters. By late Monday, Erin’s leftovers were poised to sweep across the UK, bringing an abrupt end to the hot spell with rain and blustery winds.
The Met Office forecast painted a clear picture: from Tuesday, August 26, onward, the country would see spells of rain moving in from the west, with the heaviest showers and even the risk of thunder expected through the week. Temperatures were set to tumble, dropping to the high teens in the north and low twenties in the south—much closer to the seasonal average. “It will be heavy at times in the west, but at the moment we’re not expecting too many impacts, and it may, for farmers or anyone who needs the rain, be welcome,” Snell explained, as reported by Sky News.
Despite the dramatic weather shift, no official UK weather warnings were in place for Erin’s arrival. The Met Office reassured the public that only the storm’s remnants would impact the country, sparing the UK from the hurricane’s earlier ferocity. Still, authorities continued to advise caution for those venturing to the coast, with big waves expected to pose a risk on Monday and Tuesday.
For many, the rainfall couldn’t come soon enough. Earlier in the summer, parts of Ceredigion in Wales had been placed under a “developing drought” status, with reservoir levels reported at 31% lower than the same period last year. Natural Resources Wales declared drought status in southeast Wales, citing environmental pressures such as low river flows and stressed fish populations. Yet, Welsh Water maintained a measured tone, noting that “most reservoir levels remained as expected for this time of year,” despite a sharp rise in demand during the hot weather. A spokesperson said, “Generally, we have no concerns about reservoir levels across our operating area, with most at levels we would expect at this time of year. We do however, see a large increase in usage during warm weather, and we would like to thank customers who stay hydrated but do their best not to waste any water.”
The arrival of Erin’s rain was expected to break the dry spell that had persisted in many areas since August 11, when only 4-5mm of rain was recorded. As the week progressed, forecasts called for frequent showers, longer periods of rain, and the occasional bout of hail and thunder, especially in the west. Breezy conditions would persist, but the sun would still make appearances, offering pleasant moments between the showers. By Wednesday, a band of rain was expected to sweep across the entire country, with low pressure dominating the weather until the weekend.
While it’s tempting to view such extreme weather events as isolated, scientists caution that climate change is making hot spells like these longer, more intense, and increasingly frequent. Linking a single weather event directly to climate change is tricky, but the overall trend is undeniable. As BBC noted, the summer of 2025—with its four declared heatwaves and record temperatures—fits the pattern of a warming climate, with all the challenges and uncertainties that brings.
Amid the records and the rainfall, daily life continued. Welsh Water, for its part, kept a close eye on reservoir levels, ready to act if needed to ensure both customer supply and environmental protection. “The company has been carefully monitoring the situation for months and keeping a close eye on water levels at its reservoirs,” the spokesperson added.
For those enjoying the last of the summer sun, the message was clear: savor the warmth, but prepare for a quick return to typical British weather. With Hurricane Erin’s remnants sweeping in, umbrellas and raincoats were once again set to become the accessories of choice. As the UK transitions from a record-breaking Bank Holiday heatwave to a week of showers and storms, the summer of 2025 will be remembered as one of dramatic contrasts—proof, if anyone needed it, that British weather is never dull.
