London is basking in the sunshine on a sweltering Friday - with the temperature hitting 27C by early afternoon.
After a record hot summer gave way to a wet and chilly start to September, the capital’s parks are once again packed with sun worshippers as the capital enjoys an unexpected burst of hot weather.
The Met Office has predicted a high of 27C in London later in the afternoon - around 8C above the seasonal average - with 27C already recorded in the capital at 2pm on what one X user called a “random hot day in September”.
Meteorologist Tom Morgan described the conditions as “very topsy-turvy” with a sharp drop in the temperature expected by Sunday.
He said: “Tomorrow we’re going to see very summery weather, with parts of London reaching highs of 27C, which is about eight degrees above the average for the time of year.
“But it’s turning cooler as the weekend goes on, and before that we will see heavy rain in some areas.
When the sun rises over London, the streets sparkle, cafe tables and chairs fill the sidewalks, and even Big Ben smiles. Walking down the street today, I didn't even mind the traffic jams because I was too busy enjoying this rare sunshine. ☀️🚶♀️ #LondonLife pic.twitter.com/mF6dUkwFvi
— Doreen (@BetaEspim) September 19, 2025
“That area and eastern Northern Ireland could see some travel disruption and localised flooding.
“By the end of the weekend, all areas will be below average, with some parts of Scotland not reaching double figures – between 13C and 15C.”
The Met Office is forecasting a high of only 16C on Sunday.
Meanwhile, BBC Weather has predicted that the mercury will reach 25C on Friday, with nine hours of uninterrupted sunshine.
The weather in London is in stark contrast to other areas of the country. Yellow weather warnings for rain have been issued on Saturday and Sunday for Wales and northern England.
Random hot day in London in September
— A (@Bygecko1) September 19, 2025
Meanwhile, London will still see sunny spells on Saturday as temperatures remain in the low 20s.
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service urged caution after a local alert was put in place from 9am on Saturday until 6am on Sunday.
The service said on X: “A yellow weather warning has been issued for this weekend covering all of Merseyside.
“Expect possible travel delays and disruption, with potential for flooding. Please take care, particularly when travelling.”
Mr Morgan added that “other aspects of the weather this weekend” could include potentially strong winds, compounding the unsettled conditions.
