Temperatures climb above 28C in burst of autumn warmth

Temperatures surpassed 28C (82F) in the UK on Sunday as summer-like warmth made a brief return.

A southerly wind brought a shot of hot and humid air from the near continent, pushing temperatures above average.

The warmest locations on Sunday were in south-east England which saw 28.6C (83F), recorded at Northolt in west London. England and Wales saw temperatures in the mid-20s Celsius more widely.

This comes as parts of central and southern Europe are experiencing a spell of intense heat, with some locations exceeding 45C recently.

High pressure has been building in from the south where temperatures across continental Europe have been particularly high.

France and Spain have been among the hottest locations this week with temperatures exceeding 40C at times.

On Thursday, Spain saw its hottest day of 2026. Huelva in the south-west reached a staggering 45.7C.

The hottest spots in Spain will continue to exceed 40C over the next few days, even around the Ebro Valley in the north, which typically sees temperatures closer to 20C at this time of year.

Parts of southern France, including the Ardeche region, will see temperatures in the high-30s for the next few days, possibly touching 40C locally.

The warmth will be short-lived. As high pressure moves away to the east, the area of low pressure will drive more weather fronts across the UK.

By Monday, it will be even windier for north-west Scotland with coastal gales possible.

Showery outbreaks of rain will push west to east and, behind this cold front, temperatures will be lower by Tuesday. Average temperatures in early September are between 15 and 21C from north to south.

A ridge of high pressure brings more settled conditions to parts of the UK on Wednesday .

For a full look at September, read the latest monthly outlook.