The UK is set for an unseasonably warm weekend, with temperatures set to reach 27C

The UK is bracing for an unseasonably warm weekend, with temperatures expected to reach 27C (80.6F), potentially beating the heat of popular European holiday destinations such as Ibiza, Athens and Barcelona According to weather experts, this temperature rise could mark the UK’s highest October since 2018.

Southern regions of the UK are expected to feel the brunt of this “unusually warm” weather, with the South East expected to witness the highest temperatures of the autumn heat. However, the heat is not just limited to the south. The Met Office predicts that parts of northern England and Northern Ireland will also experience temperatures significantly above the seasonal average, although the extent of the warm conditions extending north remains uncertain.

This hot spell is expected to peak on Sunday and could extend into early next week. While southern regions are likely to stay in the mid-20s for the first part of the week, it’s still unclear how far the warm conditions could extend north, or how far there could be – there is persistent heat.

This unexpected heat is a stark contrast to the UK’s average October temperature of 13°C (55.4°F), according to the Met Office. Interestingly, provisional figures indicate that last month was the UK’s joint warmest September on record. The Met Office attributes these figures as being “substantially influenced” by the impact of climate change.

Despite the above-average temperatures, the Met Office has clarified that the criteria for an official heatwave is unlikely to be met. According to its definition, a heatwave is recorded when a location experiences at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold, a figure that varies by county in the UK.

The UK record temperature for October is 29.9 °C (85.8 °F), recorded at Gravesend, Kent, in early October 2011. The next warm spell, although significant, will not is expected to break this record. However, it serves as a reminder of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns and the growing influence of climate change.