Meteorological autumn is just around the corner, but could the heat return?

After one of the city’s driest summers on record, Peterborough finally enjoyed some rain this week - but could a sixth heatwave of 2026 be just around the corner?

This week’s rain and cooler temperatures were very much welcomed after back-to-back heatwaves left much of Peterborough burnt to a crisp.

The city has experienced highs of 36.7C this summer, with 0.1mm of rain falling in July.

Forecasts suggests that heat could return towards the middle of September

placeholder image — Forecasts suggests that heat could return towards the middle of September

With parks, gardens and other open spaces crying out for water, Peterborough was officially categorised as in drought by the Environment Agency earlier this month.

An Anglian Water-imposed hosepipe ban, issued on July 11, remains in place.

Over recent days the region experienced its first meaningful rainfall in weeks, but Anglian Water says that it will take far more than that to reverse months of exceptionally dry conditions.

With the start of meteorological autumn just over a week away, many are hoping that the extreme heat associated with this summer can be consigned to the past.

Will there be another hot and dry spell in early September?

Looking ahead to early September, as we transition from summer to autumn, the Met Office’s long range forecast predicts that changeable weather is likely to continue.

The forecast, which covers the period between Friday, September 4 and Friday, September 18, says that “longer spells of rain” will hit many parts of the country.

However, the forecast suggests that heat could return towards the middle of September.

“Further into September, drier weather may become more prevalent, especially in the south and southeast, with any more unsettled conditions tending to become confined further north and northwest, according to the Met Office.”

“Temperatures will probably be near normal at first, but may turn warmer later with a chance of some hot periods in the south.”

While temperatures are unlikely to climb into the mid-thirties during September, it remains to be seen whether Peterborough could pass its heatwave threshold during the month.

Here in Peterborough that would mean three consecutive days of reaching 28C or higher.

Parts of the UK last experienced a September heatwave in 2023, when temperatures hit 33.5C and stayed above 30C for seven consecutive days.