Britain facing mega 26C blast in just days - and it'll be warmer than Ibiza (original) (raw)

Britain could be warmer than popular European holiday destinations like Ibiza and Corfu as hot weather brings a summery feel to September and pleasant highs of 26C

Hot temperatures of 26C are forecast

New maps have revealed when 26C temperatures could hit the UK - making parts of the country warmer than Ibiza and Corfu.

Hot weather has finally returned to Britain this week after a cold start to autumn, with the mercury rising to 24C in the southeast of England on Wednesday afternoon. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the north of England have also seen warmer than average temperatures for mid-September, and new forecasts suggest this summery feel to the weather will stick around for another few days at least. The Met Office's weather map for Thursday 19 September, shows highs of 26C in the capital - warmer than Ibiza, where things will reach only 23C, and the Greek island of Corfu, where thunderstorms and a maximum of 24C has been forecast.

Met Office weather map for Thursday 19 September (

Image:

Met Office)

Warm temperatures between 20C and 23C are also likely across much of England and Wales, dropping into the high teens in Scotland and the northeast. However, one Met Office expert has told the Mirror that cooler weather will arrive by the time we reach the weekend.

Meteorologist Zoe Hutin said: “It is warmer than we’d expect for this time of year at the moment – temperatures today are in the mid 20s quite widely, and some areas have seen 24.9C and 25.1C in Scotland. So it is warmer than we’d expect. Normally we’d see temperatures around this time of year – for the south of the country – hovering around 18C or 19C, and in the north, perhaps 12-15C.

Met Office temperature map for Friday 20 September (

Image:

Met Office)

"We will get some similar temperatures we’ve seen today tomorrow too, with London being one of the warmer areas, rather than Scotland. There’s a potential of London seeing highs of 26C. But we are going to see a turn with slightly more unsettled and slightly cooler temperatures over the coming weekend.

"Although it’s warm at the moment, there will be a cooling trend over the coming few days. Some thunderstorms are potentially on the way, and heavy showers as well."

The Met Office's official forecast for Friday to Sunday says: "Largely dry in the north with sunny spells. Showers or longer spells of rain edging in from the south from Friday, heavy with thunder possible. Warm in the sunshine."