Will there be a heatwave this week? Met Office prediction as hot weather returns

BRITS are set for a burst of sunny weather this week as temperatures rise across parts of the country. But could the warmer spell develop into a late-September heatwave? Here’s everything you need to know. The start of this week is going to feel more like summer again in some areas Credit: Alamy But a band of heavy rain is forecast for later in the week Credit: Splash After a record-breaking summer, during which there were a whopping five heatwaves and much of the UK was left in drought conditions, so far September has seen more typical early-autumn weather. But with brighter conditions forecast for this week, many people are wondering whether yet another heatwave could be on the cards. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Will there be a heatwave this week? The warmest and sunniest conditions will be mainly in southern parts of Britain at the start of the week. The Met Office says Monday will be dry, warm and sunny in the south, with light winds. Further north and west, cloud will thicken and there could be some patchy light rain. It will remain overcast across northern and western areas overnight with the chance of some drizzle, while elsewhere will be clearer but possibly with patches of mist and fog. Tuesday will be cloudy for many, although there will also be some brighter spells. Rain will move into northwest Scotland and Northern Ireland during the day, while the southeast is expected to be “rather sunny and warm”. Most read in The Sun But unfortunately for sun-seekers, there is no heatwave in the Met Office’s latest five-day forecast. Temperatures could reach 25C in parts of London and the South East on Tuesday, with highs of 23C in Birmingham, 22C in Bristol and Durham, 19C in Belfast and Edinburgh, and 17C in Glasgow. The Met Office defines an official heatwave as when temperatures in a certain area meet or exceed a specific threshold for three full days in a row. As the climate varies across the UK, these are divided by counties and regions. 25C: Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, northern England, and parts of the South West. 26C to 27C: Central, eastern, and southern counties. 28C: Greater London and surrounding Home Counties. What is the Met Office forecast for the rest of the week? The weather will become more unsettled from the middle of the week. A band of heavy rain is forecast to move through the UK on Wednesday. Thursday should then bring a break from the wet weather, with conditions becoming drier and brighter, but it will also feel fresher than the start of the week. Cloud is expected to build again on Friday, with light rain moving south across the country. So anyone hoping the warmer start to the week marks the beginning of another prolonged spell of summer-like weather is likely to be disappointed. What is the Met Office long-range forecast? The unsettled theme is expected to continue into the end of September and beginning of October. Between Friday, September 25, and Sunday, October 4, weather systems arriving from the Atlantic are forecast to “bring spells of rain, showers and occasional strong winds”. Northern and western parts of the UK are most likely to see the wettest and windiest weather, although those conditions could spread. There should also be some drier breaks between the spells of rain, particularly in the south and east, which could last several days. Temperatures across the period are forecast to be “slightly above normal overall”, although clearer nights could bring fog and frost. Looking further ahead, changeable weather is expected to become more common between Monday, October 5, and Monday, October 19. More rain is forecast to arrive from the Atlantic, broken up by brighter and drier periods. Deeper areas of low pressure could also produce “very strong winds”, particularly in northern and western areas. Temperatures are again expected to remain slightly above average overall, but there could also be some brief cooler spells. Comment now