**Wales Braces for Sweltering Heat Followed by Thundery Downpours as School Holidays Begin**
Wales is poised on the brink of another heatwave, with the latest data from the Met Office indicating a spell of hot, dry weather sweeping across much of the country this week. However, forecasts show this welcome sunshine will be short-lived, as the break for school summer holidays will be marred by heavy rain and storms, dashing the hopes of families planning outdoor adventures.
The Met Office’s heatwave criteria are strict: to be defined as a heatwave, temperatures must reach or exceed the local threshold (25°C in Wales) for at least three consecutive days. As the mid-July warmth intensifies, areas such as Monmouth, Newport, and Wrexham are set to bask in high temperatures around 24–25°C from Wednesday through Friday, offering a taste of summer for residents and visitors alike.
On Wednesday, meteorologists are predicting an idyllic day, with widespread sunshine and temperatures climbing into the mid-20s. The favourable weather looks set to persist into Thursday, with regions like Monmouth tipped to enjoy 25°C by the afternoon. While Friday will repeat these warm, sunny conditions, temperatures will only narrowly reach the heatwave threshold, offering just a glimpse of sustained summer heat.
Such pleasant weather, unfortunately, will be brief. According to current forecasts, this spell of sunshine is forecast to end precisely as schools break up for the six-week summer holidays. As Saturday approaches, dark clouds are already gathering, with rain set to sweep across much of the nation by the weekend.
Those living in mid and West Wales may not be so fortunate even in the lead-up to the holidays. Heavy rain is already expected to arrive in the early hours of Friday morning, particularly between 4am and 7am, drenching areas from Llandeilo up towards Lampeter. Towns and cities including Pembrokeshire, Swansea, Aberystwyth, and Llandovery will also see rain—though less intense—during the same period.
Saturday’s weather picture is particularly bleak for holidaymakers, as Met Office radar maps display amber and red areas blanketing 75% of Wales by mid-morning, indicating heavy to severe rainfall. As the day unfolds, the downpours are expected to move towards the west, before shifting back into mid-Wales by late afternoon. Thunderstorms are likely to accompany the rain, potentially causing further disruption to outdoor plans.
By Sunday, there may be some respite as the rain is predicted to be less intense. However, a large swathe of the nation, especially in mid and north Wales, will remain under cloud and occasional showers. While drier spells are likely in some areas, broader sunshine is expected to remain elusive for the start of the summer break.
A Met Office spokesperson commented on the coming weather: “Wednesday will be largely dry and bright with some spells of sunshine, but thicker cloud and patchy rain may arrive in the southwest later on. It will feel much warmer in the sunshine.” The official further noted a slight risk of showers developing on Thursday and Friday, with a significant uptick in rainfall and potential for thundery rain on Saturday.
Weather events such as this underscore the unpredictability of the British summer, which so often appears to turn just as schools empty out and families are free to explore. Local tourism operators and businesses reliant on good weather now face a nervous wait, hopeful that forecasts shift and allow the sun to return before long.
Parents and holiday-goers are being urged to keep an eye on the latest weather alerts, plan accordingly, and prepare for a mixed bag of conditions as the country transitions from a heatwave interlude to a period of unsettled weather. The brief window of hot weather may not be enough to dry out picnic baskets or guarantee beach-ready days, but as ever, Welsh holidaymakers remain ever-optimistic.
As the week unfolds, Wales will be watching the skies, fingers crossed, wondering if the capricious British summer will provide another surprise twist—or deliver further frustration for families longing for sunshine.