Peterborough set to bask in a ‘mini heatwave’ this week

The Met Office is forecasting temperatures up to 27C (80.6F) today (Sept 6) with some cloudy spells before clearer skies see the hottest [part of the day between 3pm and 5pm.

Tomorrow (Tuesday, Sept 7) is likely to see more clear skies and sunshine throughout with temperatures top 28C (82.4F) with similar temperatures likely on Wednesday (Sept 8).

Temperatures are set to cool on Thursday (Sept 9) with highs of 24C (75.2F) with more cloudy weather followed by more cloud and possible showers on Friday (Sept 10) when temperatures are forecast to peak at around 23C (73.4).

The weekend is likely to see more sunny spells with highs of around 22C (71.6F).

Parts of the UK could see an official heatwave in the coming days, with temperatures hitting almost 30C (86F), forecasters have said.

A location meets the UK heatwave threshold when it records a period of at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperature levels which vary across the country.

These include 25C (77F) for central England and Wales – where it has been forecast the threshold could be exceeded – and 28C (82.4F) for London and the South East.

The mercury is expected to exceed the average for September, which is 18C (64.4F) in the UK.

Annie Shuttleworth, a Met Office forecaster said: “We are expecting temperatures to rise at the beginning of the new week.

“Despite a cloudy start to Monday, conditions will be clear and bright with hot temperatures for large parts of England and eastern Wales as the result of continental air moving in from the south.

“This air will start to push through the country on Tuesday and Wednesday, dragging temperatures as high as 29C (84.2F) for parts of the south-east while Scotland and Northern Ireland will also move into the mid-twenties.

“It’s going to be very warm for the time of year and could even be rather uncomfortable for people trying to sleep at night, with temperatures remaining at around 18C (64.4F) during the evening.”

Ms Shuttleworth said this meant a “decent chance” of an official heatwave for parts of central England and eastern Wales, where the temperature threshold needed over three days is 25C (77F).

However, she warned of an area of low pressure moving in from the west on Wednesday afternoon, bringing with it grey and wet conditions for much of the UK on Thursday.

Thunderstorms are also expected in the second half of the week to conclude the hot spell.

It comes as bookmaker Coral cut odds on a record hot September in the UK from 2-1 to 4-5.

A spokesman said: “Summer may not be over just yet and with a mini heatwave on its way, the chances of this month ending as a record hot September have increased significantly.”