Temperatures across southern England are set to rise over the next two days, with the Met Office forecasting a peak of around 27 °C to 28 °C in the South East on Friday, according to deputy chief forecaster Dan Holley.
Thursday is expected to be largely dry for most of England and Wales, with daytime highs in the low‑20s, while a cold front will bring rain to western Scotland and Northern Ireland by the afternoon, gradually giving way to mixed conditions over the weekend.
The forecast comes as much of England, including London and the South East, remains in drought after an exceptionally dry spring and summer that featured successive heatwaves, putting additional strain on water supplies and reservoirs.
Holley explained that once early fog patches clear in the south, the combination of clear skies and a nearby continental high‑pressure area will make Friday “exceptionally warm for late September,” especially in the South East.
He added that the weekend will be mixed: Saturday should stay fine and dry across most of the country, but Sunday will see an increasing chance of rain or showers, particularly in western regions.
Looking ahead, the Met Office sees growing signals of wet and windy weather from Tuesday into Wednesday, with a possibility of coastal impacts in the west and south‑west if a deep low‑pressure system tracks close to the UK early next week, especially when high spring tides are expected.