Shorts at the ready. . . summer’s finally here (but for one week only)

SUMMER seemed to come and go in the blink of an eye this year, but according to experts it has not quite finished yet.

Forecasters are predicting temperatures of up to 66f (19c) next week, with most of the country expected to bask in the sunshine.

And while England had the best of the weather in July and August, Scots looks set to enjoy a much warmer Indian summer than those south of the Border.

But the blue skies will last only one week before we are thrust back into autumn.

While some parts of the country enjoyed the belated summer sun yesterday, the West was pelted with heavy rain, strong winds and even hail. However, the showers are set to fade away by lunchtime today, ahead of a weekend of sun.

Tomorrow is expected to bring the best of the warm weather, with forecasters predicting a largely cloudfree day and light winds.

Although the mercury will drop slightly on Sunday and Monday, it will return to the mid-to-high teens for much of next week.

Yesterday, a Met Office spokesman said: ‘We have seen autumn starting to creep in over the last few days, but next week high pressure will move in across the country bringing with it some warmer temperatures and sun- shine. Saturday will see temperatures reach the high teens, possibly 19c with quite a bit of sun when the clouds move. Although we will be looking at less sunshine as we move into Sunday and Monday, we are still looking at highs of 17c and 18c (62f and 64f).’

British Weather Services senior meteorologist Jim Dale said: ‘Hello Indian summer – late September is going to see highs in the high teens widely.’

But experts say autumn will return as we move into October, with temperatures set to plummet and rain expected to move in. The Met Office spokesman added: ‘Sunshine will continue throughout the week, but as we move into October and into the following weekend the weather will become more changeable and autumnal.

‘There is nothing drastic forecast at the moment, but we are looking at dropping temperatures and rain.’

The autumn warmth will make up for Scotland’s summer, which was one of the coldest on record.

According to Met Office figures, September has been the coldest since 1994, with an average temperature of only 12.2c (54f).