Halloween heatwave puts UK autumn on hold

10:41 28 October 2009

It's normally a time for winter coats hats, gloves and scarves, but Britain is set to have a warm spell this week.

The Met Office has reported that the UK could reach unseasonably warm temperatures, peaking on Thursday (October 28) at up to 21C (70F) in places in south-east England, East Anglia and parts of the north Midlands.

Temperatures could be as much as 10C warmer than average for this time of year in what weather officials are terming the "official Indian summer" and though there is likely to be a north-south divide, sunny spells will be felt across the country, but with more chance of showers in the north.

Night time temperatures will average 11C, forecasters predict , the same as the normal maximum daytime temperature at this stage of the year. Usually it is around 4-7C at night in late October.

However, it is not set to last; the first sweep of "proper" rain is to cross the country after late Friday and Saturday morning.

Forecasters have said the unusually warm temperatures are due to warm Mediterranean air coming up from southern France, Spain and North Africa.

The late October sunshine could see the record broken for the hottest temperatures documented this late in the year. The record currently stands at 21.7C (71F) on November 4 1946 in Prestatyn, north Wales.

Last year however, it was a very different story with the south east seeing the first snowfall for 70 years plunging to -4.1C (25F) in some areas.

The short blast of good weather is good news for the thousands of school children enjoying their half term break, with tourist resorts likely to see a sudden surge in the last days of October.

A Met Office spokesman said: "This week is ideal for families out and about. It is going to be mild nationwide throughout the whole week, with the driest weather in the south and east."

This year has already seen the driest September in 100 years and thanks to this late summer the usual colourful displays of golden leaves is likely to wait until mid-November.