Weather map reveals when 26C hot blast will hit Britain making it warmer than Ibiza and Corfu – just a week after earliest September frost in five years

Britons are enjoying the welcome return of summery weather this week as temperatures soar, making the UK warmer than European holiday hotspots.

Following a cold and wet start to autumn for many, conditions have become sunnier and settled in recent days thanks to high pressure dominating the weather.

And the mercury is set to reach 26C (79F) in London tomorrow – hotter than Ibiza and Rome (both 23C/73F), Corfu (24C/75F), Mallorca and Istanbul (both 25C/77F).

It would be the first time a temperature of 26C has been recorded in the UK in nearly a fortnight since Aviemore in the Highlands hit 26.2C (79.1F) on September 7.

And less than a week ago, England and South Wales both recorded their earliest frost in September since 2019 as temperatures fell to -2.7C (27.F1F) last Friday.

A woman enjoys the warm September weather at St James’s Park in London this afternoon

Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said today: ‘The settled weather should last for another day or so – it is going to turn more unsettled across more southern areas from Friday and into the weekend, however.

‘But for the time being high pressure is dominating our weather. Still quite a lot of cloud around across many southern areas of the UK, the east coast in particular – that’s because an area of high pressure is bringing an easterly wind.

‘But we’ll continue to see the influence of that high pressure through Wednesday and Thursday, particularly across more northern areas. A risk of showers starting to develop across the South by Friday.’

Warm conditions are set to stay in place this week with a high of 25C (77F) today in the South East of England, 19C (66F) in the North and 20C (68F) in Scotland.

These temperatures are around 3C above average for the time of year in the South and up to 6C above average in Scotland – but around average for the North.

Cloud in the East and South lifted this morning, leaving a bright afternoon today with plenty of sunny spells but breezy in southern areas.

Later, cloud will come in from the East overnight with clear skies in the North and West – but some mist and fog could form under clear skies.

Tomorrow, the mercury will rise further, getting up to 26C (79F) in the South, 20C (68F) in the North and 18C (64F) in Scotland.

A dog walker heads out on a sunny and cloudy morning at Dunsden in Oxfordshire today

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A cruise ship on the North Sea arrives at dawn at the mouth of the River Tyne this morning

Mist and fog should again quickly lift in the morning, leaving a mostly dry day which will be warm with plenty of sunshine but still breezy.

By Friday, highs of 22C (72F) are expected in the South, 19C (66F) in the North and 17C (63F) in Scotland.

The day is expected to be largely dry in the North with sunny spells, but showers or heavy rain could edge in from the South, with thunder possible.

A maximum of 24C (75F) is then forecast in London on Saturday, and 22C (72F) on Sunday – before falling to 20C (68F) by next Monday.