The Met Office is forecasting a maximum of 27C in Egham, Surrey, on Friday, September 25, with sunny conditions expected through much of the day. Weather charts show a huge area of southern and central Britain turning deep red as the late September warmth arrives.
33 areas set to reach 25C or above
Netweather maps show 33 areas reaching temperatures of 25C or above on Friday, with the hottest parts of southern England reaching 27C. By around 3pm, the majority of southern England and parts of the Midlands are shown above 25C, while parts of South Wales are also forecast to reach the mid-20s. Further north, parts of Cheshire and Yorkshire are shown reaching 25C.
The full list of areas shown at 25C or above includes Dorset, Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Greater London, Lincolnshire, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Hereford and Worcestershire, Shropshire, Powys, Cheshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, South Yorkshire and the Humber area.
Hottest spots and regional contrast
According to the charts, Devon, Dorset, London, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire are among the areas where temperatures could reach 27C on Friday. Parts of South Wales could reach 26C. The contrast with Scotland is expected to be considerable, with temperatures there remaining largely in the teens according to the same charts.
The Met Office's wider forecast supports the picture of increasingly warm conditions developing across the south, but they have warned that things could change.
Forecaster warns of changeable conditions
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tony Wisson said: "The forecast becomes more changeable from Wednesday as a series of weather fronts move across the UK. There remains some uncertainty over the exact track of a frontal system on Wednesday which could bring a spell of heavy rain, particularly across eastern and southeastern Scotland, and potentially parts of northern and northeastern England.
"We're closely monitoring this development and would encourage people to keep up to date with the latest forecasts over the coming days. It's likely that many southern areas will remain largely dry.
"It's set to be a notably chilly night on Wednesday into Thursday, with a chance of localised air frost in some rural locations, as cooler air moves in from the northwest.
"Thursday should bring long sunny spells for much of England and Wales, though we're also monitoring the potential for strong winds to affect the far northwest of the UK. Temperatures in London may reach around 22C, but another cool night is likely to follow in the south.
"With watchpoints ahead this week, it's a good idea to keep an eye on the forecast as the week goes on."
