Britain is warming up for a 10-day Indian Summer with a tropical heat surge promising the hottest October temperatures for more than a decade.
Thermometers this weekend will rocket into the high-20Cs as the jet stream drags in a fiery plume from the baking Continent.
Britons could sizzle in the hottest October spell since 2018, or even since 2011 when the monthly record of 29.9C was set in Gravesend, Kent.
Barbecues could be getting fired up through the next 10 days with hot weather tipped to last until mid-month.
Jim Dale, meteorologist for British Weather Services, said: “From the weekend and into next week there are some ridiculous temperatures on the way for the time of year.
“We are looking at 24C or higher in parts of the country, which is very unusual for a week into October.
“It looks like the warm to very warm weather will hold out into the middle of the month.”
The mercury will start to rise towards the end of this week reaching into the low- to mid-20Cs by Saturday.
The south will see the warmest conditions although the entire country will get a taste of late summer.
However, a weather front across Scotland will bring a cooler start to the weekend with the risk of heavy downpours.
A Met Office yellow weather warning for up to six inches of rain is in force across the region until Sunday morning.
Government forecasters warn of disruption to travel, flooding and damage to homes and businesses.
The cold front moves further north allowing the heat to spread into the north with Sunday looking like the best day of the weekend.
Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said: “The jet stream is going to push northwards as we go into the weekend, and it is this that is going to allow some hot air to come in from the south.
“The frontal system pushes its way northwards as the jet stream moves northwards, so on Sunday, across pretty much the whole of the UK it is going to be a largely fine and settled day with plenty of sunshine particularly across the south.
“Temperature’s will be even higher than they were on Saturday, with highs of around 26C and possibly 27C which means it is likely to be the warmest October day since 2018.
The hot weather is set to last for seven days
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“It could be the warmest October day since 2011 when we reached the highest October temperature on record.”
The hot weather has prompted books to slash the odds on an autumn heatwave with Coral offering 1-2 from 5-2 on a record hot October.
Spokesman John Hill said: “We are now odds-on for this month to end as a record-hot October. It is going to feel like an Indian summer this weekend, and with more unseasonable weather likely over the next few weeks, we could be set for another record-breaking month.”
Exacta Weather forecaster James Madden said: “High pressure will spread across the country this weekend, and that is going to bring a change to some very warm weather for the time of year.
“Temperatures are likely to reach the mid- to high-20Cs in the southern half of the country this weekend.
“Even further north, we will see temperatures reaching into the low to mid 20Cs.”
