Southend basks in 29°C sunshine before cooler, wetter weather rolls in

By

Karen McGinn
28 May 2026, 12:28 pm

Southend-on-Sea is set to enjoy the warmest day of the week today, with the Met Office forecasting clear skies and a high of 29°C. The balmy conditions will feel more like 27°C as east-southeast winds gust up to 26mph. Thursday’s heat is the peak of a warm, sunny spell that settles over the town through Saturday.

Friday brings sunny intervals and a slight dip to 27°C, though the afternoon carries a 40 per cent chance of rain around 3pm. Saturday holds on to the brightness with highs of 24°C and only a 10 per cent chance of a late shower. Throughout this warm stretch, pollen levels remain high and UV ratings peak between late morning and mid-afternoon, so anyone heading outdoors should plan accordingly.

A notable shift arrives on Sunday as cloudier skies take over and temperatures fall to 22°C, feeling closer to 18°C in strengthening winds. Gusts will build through the day, reaching up to 25mph, with a 20 per cent chance of rain around midday. The downward trend continues into Monday with light rain likely, a high of 21°C that will feel more like 16°C, and gusts rising to 28mph.

Looking further ahead, Tuesday remains unsettled with similar temperatures and a 40 per cent chance of rain in the morning, while Wednesday sees the mercury slide to 20°C and feels-like values dropping to 14°C. Winds will be at their strongest then, gusting up to 34mph. The message for Southend is clear: make the most of today’s summer-like warmth before a blustery, damp spell moves in.

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