Temperatures in London are expected to reach as high as 22C on Thursday, as the capital experiences its warmest end to an October in eight years.
The mercury hit a warm 20.5C in St James’ Park in London on Wednesday, but the Met Office says temperatures could increase to 21C or 22C on Thursday, before remaining balmy throughout the weekend.
Alex Burkill, senior meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “It’s likely to be the warmest spell we’ve had at the end of October since 2014, when we had the warmest Halloween on record.
“There appears to be a warming trend in our Octobers over the recent years, with many of them bringing milder than average spells.”
In London, the average minimum temperature at the end of October is around 7C while the average maximum temperature is around 13C.
This week, some parts of the capital will be eight or nine degrees above that.
Mr Burkill said: “Temperatures could reach 21C, possibly 22C [on Thursday]. That is significantly above average for the time of year. Overnight temperatures are really high as well.
“Probably Thursday will be the warmest day, but I still expect high teens or even low 20s through Friday and into the weekend.
“That’s not to say it will be dry the whole time. There’s a chance of some rain on Thursday, perhaps a heavy shower in the afternoon, but largely dry.
“Then perhaps a little bit of rain in the early hours of Friday, otherwise largely dry, then at the weekend some rain is likely very early on Saturday but otherwise mostly dry, and Sunday could bring some spots of rain.
“All the way throughout, the wind is not going to be light. It’s going to be breezy or blustery at times [so] it may not feel all that warm all the time.”
While Halloween remains some way off, the Met Office is confident October 31 will bring breezy and warmer than average weather. It is currently looking largely dry, though that could still change.
