UK
UK weather: Mini heatwave predicted in October after Storm Agnes brings ‘danger to life’ warning this week
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 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”.
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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
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.
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.”
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.”