Parts of the UK could be in for a rare Indian summer this month - with temperatures rising as high as 22C.
An "African plume" will push temperatures up across the country over the next two weeks, with some forecasters suggesting that the mild spell will last up to Halloween on October 31.
The South is expected to be warmer than the North, with Wednesday forecasted to be the hottest day of the week, at around 22C.
While some showers are still excepted, the UK should expect sunny spells alongside the hot temperatures, forecasters say.
Netweather forecaster Nick Finnis said: “Some computer models show 22C or 23C by midweek, bringing an Indian summer.
“An exceptionally-warm plume of air from northwest Africa looks like being pumped across Europe and to Britain, with up to the low 30s in France, and over 20C in southern Britain.”
Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna added: “There’s a good signal for higher temperatures thanks to a southerly airstream with very mild or warm air.”
Brits can expected clear skies and sunny intervals on Tuesday, while it will be much of the same in certain areas on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the Met Office.
A Met Office forecaster said: “Tuesday is mostly fine in the North, with high pressure from Wednesday bringing generally settled conditions, although with some bands of rain spreading.
“The South and West are likely to be mild during the period to October 28, with sunny spells between showery periods.”
The plume of warm air from Africa will set 2022 as the hottest year on record for Britain, with January to September the hottest first nine months of the year since 1884, the year the Met Office records began.
Met Office figures for central England show temperatures this month are 1.5C warmer than of previous Octobers.
Dr Mark McCarthy of the Met Office’s National Climate Information Centre said: “It was the warmest year so far up to the end of September, with each month since January being warmer than average.
“2022 is on track to be one of the warmest years on record if warmer-than-average conditions persist.”
UK weather forecast...
Tonight
Dry with clear periods allowing fog patches to form, except in the far north where breezy with a few showers, whilst turning cloudier in the far southwest later.
Tuesday
Fog clearing late morning, then dry with sunny spells for most, a few showers still in the far northeast. Cloudier in the far southwest perhaps giving a light shower.
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday
Thundery rain and gusty winds moving north across the UK on Wednesday followed by further showers or longer spells of rain and strong winds on Thursday and Friday.
