Will there be a heatwave next week? Met Office weather map shows hot weather returning to UK

After a historic, record-breaking summer of scorching temperatures across the UK, weather forecasts are showing signs of warming up once again. But are we actually going to see an official late September heatwave next week? The incoming warm spell is being driven by developments in the Atlantic Ocean Credit: Getty Will there be a heatwave next week? According to the Met Office, an incoming warm spell is being driven by developments in the Atlantic Ocean. The forecaster says that an area of low pressure is forming to the west of the UK. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! While they don’t expect this system to hit us directly, they explain that it is “likely to drag warmer air up from the continent and sub-tropical Atlantic.” As this warm air moves in, high pressure will build across the country during the latter part of this weekend and into next week. This means we will see a “transition to predominantly dry and bright conditions, with sunny spells becoming more widespread.” When is the warm weather coming? After a few lingering showers on Sunday and Monday (September 20 and 21) clear up, temperatures will start to creep up day by day. Warm sunshine will help push the mercury higher as we head towards the middle of next week. Southern parts of the UK are set to see the best of the weather. Most read in The Sun Current forecasts suggest highs could reach the upper 20s in the south by the end of next week. But it’s a different story for those further north. According to the Met Office’s long-range forecast, Atlantic weather fronts will remain concentrated in the north and northwest. As a result, areas like northwestern Scotland will see continued rain and wind, even as calmer, drier conditions develop across the rest of the UK. The Met Office’s forecast predicts a return to warmer temperatures Credit: MET Office But how hot it gets will depend on where you live Credit: MET Office Will it officially be classed as a heatwave? To hit official heatwave status in the UK, a specific location must record a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding their local threshold. These range from 25C to 28C depending on where you live. The Met Office says that “it remains to be seen whether official heatwave thresholds will be met, as these vary across the UK and depend on both the temperatures reached and how long they persist.” But they haven’t ruled it out. They added: “With high pressure expected to remain influential and temperatures continuing to climb, the prospect of one final heatwave before the end of the month is certainly not out of the question.” Will the warm weather last? As we head towards the end of September and into October, the Met Office says that “changeable weather may become more frequent.” While temperatures are likely to remain above average overall, we can expect rain and stronger winds spreading from the west as autumn becomes more established. Comment now