Will there be a heatwave in September? When Met Office predicts hot UK weather will return after rain this week

THE hot weather is set to return again this summer, according to the Met Office. But sun-seekers are set to face a soaking first, with rain and thunderstorms sweeping across the country this week. A sixth heatwave could be on the way Credit: BNPS But first people will have their brollies out for a different reason altogether Credit: PA Will there be a heatwave in September? The Met Office has raised the possibility of another heatwave between August 31 and September 14. Its long-range forecast says temperatures are likely to be above average overall, with high pressure settling close to the south of the UK. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The Met Office said: “As we move into the start of meteorological autumn, signals for the prevailing weather patterns affecting the UK are weak, thus something close to the climatological norm is most likely. “This means a broad northwest-southeast split in conditions, with the high pressure becoming centred close to the south of the UK and more changeable conditions developing towards the north and northwest. “Meanwhile, drier, more settled weather is slightly more likely towards the south and east. Temperatures are likely to be above average overall. “There is a chance that late season hot spells or heatwaves develop, especially in the south.” It would follow the fifth heatwave of a record-breaking summer, which brought highs of 38.1C in Kew Gardens, London, on Thursday last week – the hottest day of the year so far. Before then, a fairly unsettled spell is forecast from August 21 to 30, with showers and longer bursts of rain reaching many parts of the UK. Most read in The Sun Drier breaks are expected too, with high pressure crossing the country at times. Deeper Atlantic lows could also bring spells of widespread rain and strong winds, along with the odd thunderstorm. Temperatures are predicted be above average, but the chance of “widespread or exceptional heat” seems less likely than in recent weeks. When will it rain this week? According to the Met Office, the north will be cloudy with outbreaks of rain today, turning heavier and more persistent across Northern Ireland and western Scotland this afternoon. Further south, hazy sunshine is forecast to develop and it will be very warm and humid. Rain pushes into northern England and North Wales by dawn, while the south is predicted to stay dry with clear spells and a slightly cooler night. Tuesday should see a wet start across northern and central areas, with “rain moving erratically southwards” as the day goes on with brighter and fresher conditions sweeping in from the north. Wednesday should be dry in the south, with a mix of sunshine and showers elsewhere. But from Thursday the rain is forecast to become heavier and more widespread and there could be thunder. Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan said: “I can’t promise rain for all of us through the week ahead, but in the south at least, it’s looking like the most changeable week we’ve seen here, well at least since the end of June.” He added that a jet stream to the north of the UK allowed high pressure to dominate, which caused the recent excessive heat, but it is now travelling southwards. Comment now