Wet weekend...then be set for an autumn heatwave
BRITAIN will enjoy a balmy start to autumn today with warm weather forecast for the beginning of September.
Temperatures should stay above 70F (21C) for the next few days, with plenty of sunshine likely through the first half of the month.
But forecasters have warned of wind and rain over the weekend as the remnants of an Atlantic hurricane sweep past the UK.
The outlook for today is dry and sunny. The South will hit the 75F mark, while temperatures elsewhere will hover between 55F and 64F.
Autumn, which begins today in meteorological terms, could see unusually high temperatures, with an 86F blast possible in the next few weeks.
But before that, Britain could be shaken by the remnants of the Atlantic’s Hurricane Gaston this weekend.
The category three storm is charging north-eastwards with wind speeds of 105mph.
Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said: “On Thursday we have high pressure from the South bringing a mostly bright and sunny day with temperatures a couple of degrees above average. Further ahead it is looking a bit more unsettled but still warmer than average into the weekend with temperatures of around 70F or 71F in the South.
“However, it in any rain.
“Hurricane Gaston is weakening as it moves north-eastwards and it is heading in our direction, but the influence on our weather is thought to be minimal.” Exacta Weather’s will feel fresher James Madden said hot air lingering over the Continent will continue to drift across the UK throughout September.
He said: “A warm weather pattern will begin the meteorological autumn (September to November) throughout much of this week.
“This will bring consistent temperatures in at least the 70Fs in parts of the South and 86F or more isn’t out of the question in places. Hot air built up on the near Continent will continue to drift across our shores to bring several bursts of hot weather in among some other weather types for September and into October.”
WeatherAction forecaster Piers Corbyn said: “We are going to see very warm or even hot bursts of weather through September and it is certainly likely we will get more heatwave conditions through the month.”