BRITS hoping for one last blast of summer heat before autumn arrives might just be in luck.
While August has been a rollercoaster of scorching highs and washout lows, the latest Met Office long-range forecast suggests September could deliver a return to hot weather.
The Met Office’s latest blog confirms that ‘summer weather is set to make a return’ Credit: Alamy
High pressure is building from the west, sweeping away ‘much of the recent unsettled weather’ Credit: Alamy
But with the August Bank Holiday fast approaching, what’s on the horizon for our weather? Here is everything you need to know.
What is this weekend’s weather forecast?
Before we look toward September, those with outdoor plans for this weekend can breathe a sigh of relief.
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Following a week of rain and wind for many, the Met Office’s latest blog confirms that “summer weather is set to make a return this weekend.”
High pressure is building from the west, sweeping away “much of the recent unsettled weather.”
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But don’t expect a scorching couple of days just yet; a northerly wind will still keep things feeling cooler than average.
Saturday will begin on a “notably fresh note,” with morning temperatures in towns and cities sitting around 10C or 11C.
The Met Office says this will be a “marked change from some of the warm nights experienced during recent spells of hot weather.”
Despite the chill, it will be dry and bright for most, with highs of 21C or 22C on the south coast.
Jattvibeday will see the winds ease, allowing southern areas to reach 23C.
Overall, forecasters are expecting “plenty of useful weather for outdoor plans.”
What is the forecast for the August Bank Holiday?
If you’re hoping dry conditions will hold out for the upcoming August Bank Holiday (August 29-31), you may need to keep the brolly handy.
The Met Office says that low pressure will approach early next week, “signalling the possibility of a return to more unsettled conditions.”
Looking at the long-range forecast for late August into early September, the weather is “becoming more unsettled and changeable from the south.”
Forecasters predict that “showers or longer spells of rain spread north across many parts of the UK,” with the potential for heavy bursts and thunderstorms.
Rainfall is expected to be above average for the time of year.
But it isn’t expected to be a complete washout, and amid the showers, the Met Office says “some short-lived warm or hot spells are possible, especially in the south.”
Is another heatwave on the way?
In the UK, an “official” heatwave is declared when a location meets or exceeds a specific daily maximum temperature threshold for at least three consecutive days.
These thresholds vary by region to account for local climates, ranging from 25C in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and northern England up to 28C in London and the southeast.
If temperatures fall short of the local benchmark on any of those three days, the spell fails to qualify.
While the unsettled end to August makes an imminent Bank Holiday heatwave unlikely, September offers a glimmer of hope for sun-seekers.
According to the Met Office’s long-range forecast covering September 4 to September 18, the month will likely start off wet and thundery.
But as we head deeper into September, a shift could be on the cards.
The weather service predicts that “drier weather may become more prevalent, especially in the south and southeast.”
While any lingering rain will largely be confined to the north and northwest, the rest of the country should be able to look forward to more stable, pleasant conditions.
Crucially for heatwave hopefuls, the Met Office has said that while temperatures will initially be closer to their usual averages, they “may turn warmer later with a chance of some hot periods in the south.”
