'Indian Summer incoming' as UK weather maps turn red for 25C October heat blast

02 October 2023 , 09:10

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Britain will experience unusually high temperatures for October this coming weekend (Image: WXCHARTS)

Brits are set to bask in glorious sunshine in the first week of October with temperatures rising to heights of 25C. The 'Indian Summer' is set to peak at the weekend, with a number of areas across the country experiencing a surge of heat not often seen this time of the year.

Jim Dale, a meteorologist for British Weather Services, believes temperatures will remain high until at least mid October. GFS weather charts turn dark red on Friday, October 6 and according to current forecasts the south west of England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland will experience the first wave of intense heat.

By Saturday, however, every area of Britain will be under the red heat dome, with temperatures appearing to peak on Sunday. Mr Dale said: "I think we can fairly call this an Indian Summer incoming - it will be peaking this time next week, but it will still be pretty good to the halfway stage of October. About 25C tops next Sunday is my call."

Temperatures are set to peak at 25C on Sunday (PA)

When asked what was causing the last-minute summer burst, Mr Dale told Express.co.uk: "Two words: climate change, and it’s not just the UK but much of Europe too, and large parts of the US. There is also the El Niño factor stepping up. I’m now thinking there is little to stop 2023 being the hottest year globally since records began and likely well before."

According to BBC Weather, much of Europe is also set to experience the early October sunshine. Madrid will reach highs of 30C this week, there will be highs of 29C in Rome while Paphos will see highs of 28C.

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According to the Met Office an Indian summer is defined as "a warm, calm spell of weather occurring in autumn, especially in October and November". Currently, the warmest recorded temperatures in the UK in October and November are 29.9C on October 1, 2011 in Gravesend, Kent, and 22.4C on November 1, 2015 at Trawsgoed, Ceredigion.

The aforementioned El Niño is a term used to define the warming of the ocean surface temperature. According to the Met Office, an El Niño is declared when sea temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific rise 0.5C above the long-term average.

According to the Met Office, it will be often wet and windy across Scotland this week, with it spreading into Northern Ireland and northern England at times. Elsewhere, it is meant to be drier with bright or sunny spells and turning warmer as the week goes on.

"Temperatures are likely to be above average for many, especially so in the south where some unusually warm temperatures for October are possible," the Met Office says in its long-range weather forecast. "These temperatures are likely to trend downward toward middle of the month, with the northwest-southeast split also slowly becoming less distinct as the weather becomes generally more changeable.

"There is the potential for a slightly more settled pattern of weather during the second half of October, particularly for north-western regions which have a higher likelihood than normal for some drier spells. However, some more unsettled weather is also possible with south-eastern areas likely see more rainfall than usual for late October. Temperatures, in general, are expected to remain above average, with some mild nights also likely, though it could feel chilly in any clear and settled overnight conditions, with occasional mist and fog patches and touches of ground frost possible."

Sam Truelove