The UK is set for a cooler start to the weekend after days of intense heat and humidity, as forecasters confirm England and Wales are on track for their driest July on record.While many parts of the country will experience a welcome drop in temperatures, Saturday is expected to bring plenty of sunny spells. Maximum temperatures are predicted to reach 25-26C, a noticeable shift from the recent sweltering conditions, according to meteorologists.The Met Office announced on Friday that the month has been defined by an "exceptional combination of extreme heat, abundant sunshine and an almost complete absence of rainfall", setting England and Wales on course for their driest July since records began.Provisional statistics showed that only 5.6mm of rainfall had been recorded in England in July – less than half of the previous record of 13.4mm set in 1911.Wales is also set for its driest July with 7.9mm of rainfall, almost a third of the previous record of 22.6mm also set in 1911.The UK peak daily temperatures in 2026Northern Ireland is on track for its eighth driest July while the UK as a whole is on course for its third driest.Scotland has had 72% of its average rainfall for the month and is not currently within its top 10 driest Julys.On Saturday, there will be showery rain in the north, particularly Scotland, but it will be mostly dry elsewhere, Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said.In the Friday evening weather forecast, Mr Burkill said: “Many places, especially in the south, are crying out for some much-needed rain.“Whilst there’s a bit of a rain on the horizon for next week, there’s not much to come this weekend.”Aerial pictures taken on Friday show the parched London landscape after weeks of hot, dry weather.Half of England and the whole of Wales is is officially in drought as successive heatwaves put pressures on water resources.Firefighters have been tackling a blaze at Dunwich Heath, near Leiston, Suffolk, since 5.30pm on Wednesday.Smoke rises from the smouldering remains of a wildfire at Dunwich Heath (PA Wire)On Friday evening, Suffolk County Council said crews remained at the scene and “good progress is continuing”.The wildfire is a few miles from nuclear power station Sizewell B and the construction site for new power station Sizewell C.