Weather maps have suggested rising temperatures could gift the UK another October heatwave, just days after forecasters issued weather warnings for a mid-month deluge.
The first rain of the month tipped out several inches of water over northern England and Scotland, causing widespread flooding as showers drifted over from the west.
The Met Office has now issued a broad warning for southern areas of England and the entirety of Wales, predicting “heavy and persistent” showers and gale-force winds until late tonight.
In the days following this warning, temperature maps show the mercury rising to levels not unlike those seen earlier this month when an “October heatwave” passed over the south.
Met Office long-range forecasts have hailed the arrival of a potential “fine and dry interlude” as higher pressure blooms over southern England.
Recent forecasts from the BBC show temperatures rising from recent single-figure lows back close to the 20C range.
Between Wednesday, October 18, and Saturday, October 21, the mercury looks set to hold steady at 19C.
The Met Office forecast for October 17 to 26 states temperatures “will probably return closer to average” during the period, adding conditions could become “perhaps warm in places”.
The agency adds a “fine and dry interlude where high pressure dominates” could follow as chances increase that a “cloud and rain or showers” will spread from the southeast.
The second half of the forecast mirrors the weather warning issued by the Met Office for today, with several inches of rain expected to fall over the country today.
The agency warned “heavy and persistent” rain would “move northeast across much of England and Wales” on Thursday night, followed by drier spells and heavy gusts of wind.
The forecast states wind gusts could reach gale force level, between 45 to 50mph inland and up to 60mph “on some southern coasts”.
The Met Office adds: “The rain will clear from the northwest through Friday afternoon and evening.
“Widely 10 to 20mm of rain is likely, but in the wettest spots 30 to 50mm is possible, and some high ground of West Wales could see 70mm.
“Also a chance of 20 to 30mm of rain within two hours if heavy showers and thunderstorms develop over southern England.”
