Temperatures will climb to 27C in parts of the UK this week following the nation's hottest summer on record, according to Netweather Maps. The Met Office has said September may see further "very warm spells", especially in the south, but these are expected to be short lived.
Thursday's forecast highs
Despite a cooler end to August, temperatures will shoot up on Thursday, with areas in the south forecast to reach 27C. The weather maps predict that at 3pm, highs of 27C are on the cards in London and surrounding areas. Essex and Kent will sit at 26C and 27C, while areas further west in the Midlands will be around 25C.
Further north towards Yorkshire, afternoon temperatures are likely to be around 21C, with cooler temperatures forecast in Scotland. By 6pm, it will feel even hotter as more areas reach 27C.
Warmest regions and heatwave threshold
The weather maps forecast that Berkshire, London and Essex will be the warmest areas. Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk are also predicted to reach 25C. Along the south coast, areas including Bournemouth and Brighton will climb to 25C, while Greater Manchester may only reach 18C.
An official heatwave is declared by the Met Office when temperatures reach the "heatwave threshold" for three consecutive days. The threshold sits at 28C in the south-east, dropping to 25C the further from the south-east you travel. Therefore, although temperatures may not quite climb to the heatwave threshold, the weather is likely to be warm in most areas.
Met Office outlook for early September
The Met Office forecast for August 31 to September 9 states: "Likely remaining unsettled with showers or longer spells of rain across all areas at times. Rainfall amounts will probably be above average for the time of year with the wettest conditions in the northwest. Potential for some strong winds at times. Some drier and more settled interludes could develop, perhaps becoming longer in duration across southern areas later in this period."
"Temperatures are likely to be near average, although some short-lived warm or very warm spells are possible, especially in the south."
