Londoners are facing plunging temperatures this weekend with daytime peaks as low as 13C. It comes as Met Office forecasters warn “unsettled” conditions look to be on the way as wet and windy weather arrives from the Atlantic.
Temperature drop already under way
Temperatures have already taken a 5C plunge on Friday morning, plummeting from 21C to a likely high of 16C overnight. A spell of heavy rain was expected to be followed by overcast skies with temperatures feeling more like 14C.
It is set to get colder over the weekend with highs of 14C and 13C expected on Saturday and Sunday, the Met Office predicts. Saturday will be the brighter of the two days with sunny spells through most of the morning and early afternoon. But temperatures are expected to drop to just 9C overnight ahead of rain showers on Sunday.
Rain and wind on the way
Patches of light rain are set to fall on the capital for most of Sunday afternoon, with 30mph gusts of wind across the capital. Monday and Tuesday will be warmer than the days ahead with temperatures between 15C and 16C - though both days are likely to be overcast and grey.
But the showers will return on Wednesday, with light rain anticipated through much of the afternoon into the evening. Thursday will also see some showery spells in the morning, before a relatively warm and dry day.
Long-term outlook
In its latest long-term forecast, the Met Office says: “There are growing signs that high pressure, which is likely to still extend across the country at the start of this period, will reduce in its influence through next week.
“This will allow a more unsettled regime to develop as spells of wet and windy weather arrive from the Atlantic followed by drier though still showery interludes.” However, this could settle later on in October, with milder spells forecast in early November.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Helen Willets said: “The big difference today is the drop in temperature. We had 23C yesterday - probably just 16C today” She added that the 7C drop in temperature would be “notable” as the UK heads into a “chilly” weekend.
The rain showers across the UK will be a welcomed sight for many who are still facing drought following one of the hottest summers on record. September was unseasonably warm and was named the UK’s joint-fourth warmest since records began.
