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Hopes of a mini heatwave in October are still alive as forecasters predict warmer temperatures are on the way – after some heavy rain and winds.

The weather is expected to be warmer than usual next month, with a high of around 23C and one meteorologist predicting an “Indian summer”.

Before then, however, Storm Agnes is expected to bring winds of up to 80mph to parts of the UK.

Storm Agnes. Pic: Met Office
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Storm Agnes is forecast to bring 80mph winds. Pic: Met Office

Yellow warnings for strong winds are in place for much of the country on Wednesday – spanning from the southwest of England, up to Scotland and across to Northern Ireland – from noon on Wednesday to around 7am on Thursday.

On Tuesday morning, the Met Office said the likelihood of “impacts” from severe weather has been “increased”.

Check the latest weather forecast where you are

A similar warning for rain covers parts of central Scotland and the southwest of the country from 3pm on Wednesday to midnight.

On Thursday, a yellow warning for wind is expected last until 7am, according to the Met Office, with the majority of the country outside the South East and East Anglia affected.

Yellow warnings for strong winds and heavy rain are in place from Wednesday to Thursday. Pic: Met Office
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Yellow warnings for strong winds and heavy rain are in place from Wednesday to Thursday. Pic: Met Office

The Met Office has warned “injuries and danger to life from flying debris are possible”, with the chance of disruption on the roads and rails and some power cuts, while rain could cause flooding.

But once Storm Agnes is out of the way, there will be a return to “sunny spells and showers”, according to Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern.

People walk by Centenary Square in Birmingham during a rainy morning. Strong winds and heavy rain are set to batter the UK as Storm Agnes sweeps across the country. Agnes, the first named storm of the season, will affect western regions of the UK and Ireland on Wednesday, with the most powerful winds expected on the Irish Sea coasts. Picture date: Tuesday September 26, 2023.
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Birmingham was hit by rain on Tuesday morning

“By the end of Friday, high pressure builds in from the south and that will lead to a fine start for most of us on Saturday,” he said.

“It’s not exactly plain sailing, still some showers in the west, and still some lows out to the west waiting to come in perhaps for later in the weekend.”

He added: “A glimmer of a more benign period as we begin the weekend.”

People enjoying the sunshine at Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire, as temperatures hit 30C for the fifth day in a row, the first time that's happened in September since records began
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Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire

Meteorologist Jim Dale said “a taste of an Indian summer” could be on its way for some “by the weekend” and “for a time thereafter” in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

A heatwave is defined by the Met Office as “an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year, which may be accompanied by high humidity”.

In the UK, it is “when a location records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold”. This threshold varies by each county in the UK.

The maximum and minimum average temperatures for the UK in October are 13.8C and 6.4C, respectively – and 14.7C and 7.5C for southern England.

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The Met Office said temperatures could reach as high as 23C next Tuesday, 22C on the Wednesday, 19C on Thursday and 20C on Friday – hitting 21C at the weekend.

Its long-range forecast for October states: “Temperatures are expected to be close to or slightly above average through the period.

“Some more dry, settled periods, are likely until the middle of the month.

“It is expected that temperatures will generally be above average for October.”

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Body found in search for missing jogger Jenny Hall

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Body found in search for missing jogger Jenny Hall

A body has been found in the search for 23-year-old runner Jenny Hall. 

She was last seen leaving her home in Barracks Farm, County Durham, in her car just after 3pm on Tuesday.

Police said there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances after a body was found in a very remote area in Teesdale on Sunday morning, five days after she went missing.

Jenny Hall. Pic: Durham Constabulary
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Jenny Hall went missing on Tuesday. Pic: Durham Constabulary

“We’re sorry to report that officers searching for missing woman Jenny Hall, have sadly found a body,” Durham Constabulary said in a statement.

“Officers carried out an extensive search alongside specialist partners and have been working around-the-clock to locate Jenny after she went missing on February 18.

“The body was found in a very remote area in Teesdale just after 9.30am today.

“Formal identification has yet to take place. Jenny’s family have been notified and are currently being supported by specialist officers. They have asked for privacy at this devasting time.

“It is not believed there are any suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

A major police search was launched after Ms Hall’s disappearance.

Her car, a red Ford Focus, was found on Wednesday parked on the B6278, near remote moorland between Eggleston and Stanhope.

Mountain rescue teams, specialist drones and sniffer dogs had been combing the Hamsterley Forest and the surrounding areas, where there are a number of running trails, this week.

Digital intelligence officers also carried out extensive inquiries into Ms Hall’s mobile phone, smart watch and running apps.

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Fresh amber warning for rain as Met Office issues alerts for much of UK

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Fresh amber warning for rain as Met Office issues alerts for much of UK

A fresh amber weather warning for heavy rain has been issued by the Met Office – with much of the UK already on alert for high winds and showers.

Northern Ireland, Scotland and the UK’s west coast and the Midlands have yellow warnings for wind on Sunday – meaning the possibility of transport delays and short-term power cuts.

There are also rain warnings in place for several parts of western UK.

The new amber warning has been issued for rain in south and central Wales and is in force from 3pm on Sunday to 6am on Monday.

An amber warning means danger to life from floodwater, homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, and there is a chance some communities will be cut off.

Winds across the west of the UK will increase throughout the morning with gusts up to 70mph in exposed areas, the Met Office said.

Zoe Hutin, a meteorologist at the forecaster, said Sunday is expected to be the “worst day” before conditions improve.

“The wind warning itself for the mainland UK ends at 6pm, but we can expect to continue to see quite blustery conditions even into the evening as the mainland rain itself pushes through.”

She added: “By the time people get up on Monday, we’ll still have some of the residual rain from that front in the far south-east of the country, and quite cloudy across England as well.

“But actually elsewhere, it could be a decent start.”

The Met Office’s yellow weather warnings for much of England and Scotland came into force at 6am and are expected to run until 6pm on Sunday.

A separate yellow warning for Northern Ireland came into force at 3am and runs until 3pm.

Rain and high winds are expected across the west of the UK
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Rain and high winds are expected across the west of the UK

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People who have noticed some slightly higher temperatures the last couple of days may be dismayed at the latest predictions.

“Through the week, those temperatures are trending back down,” Ms Hutin said.

“And so it will be getting cooler each day, but they will actually just be recovering to around average for the time of year. So it won’t be cold.

“It will just be returning back to where we would expect to be for this time of February.”

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Starmer says ‘US is right’ about UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence

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Starmer says 'US is right' about UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence

Sir Keir Starmer has said the United States “is right” about the UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence and security.

The prime minister, speaking at the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow on Sunday, said he is clear Britain “will take a leading responsibility” in protecting the continent.

“Instability in Europe always washes up on our shores,” he said.

“And this is a generational moment. I’ve been saying for some time that we Europeans – including the United Kingdom – have to do more for our defence and security. The US is right about that.”

He added “we can’t cling to the comforts of the past” as it is “time to take responsibility for our security”.

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Donald Trump sparked an emergency meeting of European leaders this week after he said European NATO members should spend more on defence, while the US should spend less.

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Sir Keir has said he will set out a path for the UK to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence, up from the current 2.3%, but has not indicated when that will be.

It is believed he may announce the details when he visits Mr Trump in Washington DC on Thursday, bringing forward the announcement that was expected in the spring when a defence spending review is published.

The prime minister reiterated the UK will “play our role” if required in Ukraine following a peace agreement after he earlier this week said the UK would send troops to be part of a peacekeeping force.

Pic: AP
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Sir Keir will meet Donald Trump in the White House on Thursday. Pic: AP

However, his comments caused a row with Germany and Italy who said it was premature to commit to boots on the ground, although France agreed with the UK.

Sir Keir said: “As we enter a new phase in this conflict, we must now deepen our solidarity even further.”

He added: “There can be no discussion about Ukraine without Ukraine.

“And the people of Ukraine must have long-term security.”

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This week has seen US officials meet their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia to discuss Ukraine – which has been met with indignation by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as none of his team were invited.

No Europeans were invited either, sparking concern the US is pandering to Vladimir Putin.

Sir Keir has promised Mr Zelenskyy he will make the case for safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty when he meets with Mr Trump, who has called the Ukrainian president a dictator.

Mr Trump also said Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron, who will visit the White House too this week, “haven’t done anything” to end the war.

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