Britain is set to enjoy one final burst of late-September heat as temperatures climb to 28C in parts of the UK next week. The Met Office said conditions will be “exceptionally warm” for this time of year, bringing what many are calling a rare mini-heatwave just as autumn should be taking hold.
Heat dome drives tropical air north
Forecasters say the surge is being driven by a “heat dome” sitting over continental Europe. The high-pressure system acts like a lid, helping to trap warmth and pull up humid, tropical air from North Africa and the subtropical Atlantic. That combination can push temperatures higher than normal for late September and make it feel muggy in the warmest spots.
However, the UK is expected to be split as the warm plume meets a changeable Atlantic push. The hottest conditions are forecast across the South East and East Anglia, with highs of 27C to 28C around London and the Home Counties. At times, it could even leave parts of Britain hotter than popular holiday hotspots such as Athens.
North and west see cooler contrast
Further north and west, a cooler front is expected to edge in, bringing fresher air, outbreaks of heavy rain and temperatures capped in the mid-to-high teens, creating a stark contrast across the country.
Weather modelling suggests 19 English counties could see temperatures reach 26C or higher during the peak of the heat. The full list of the 19 counties forecast to hit 26C or more is: Greater London, Surrey, Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire.
Last taste of summer before autumn
Meteorologists say this is likely to be the last proper taste of summer before autumn takes over for good. The Met Office has signalled the heat and humidity should drop away sharply over the weekend, with a more unsettled spell developing into next week as low pressure moves in from the Atlantic, bringing wetter, windier conditions.
Met Office deputy chief forecaster Dan Holley said: "Once early fog patches clear in the south, Friday will be exceptionally warm for late September, especially in the south-east closest to an area of high pressure over the nearby continent."
"A weakening cold front will drift gradually south-eastwards overnight and into Saturday, with temperatures falling back closer to average over the weekend. This sets up a mixed weekend of weather, much of Saturday will be fine and dry before an increasing chance of rain or showers on Sunday, especially in more western parts."
