Does Europe's hot weather signal a September heatwave for the UK? - BBC Weather
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Heat exceeds 40C in parts of Europe - is a September heatwave in store for the UK?
Image source: Getty Images
By Sarah Keith-Lucas Lead Weather Presenter
Published 4 hours ago
The UK will experience a brief burst of summer-like weather this weekend as hot air from central and southern Europe moves northward. France and Spain have been particularly hot this week, with temperatures exceeding 40°C at times.
The extreme heat is expected to intensify in central and eastern regions over the next few days. As it does, some of that warmth will temporarily head towards the UK, causing temperatures to rise through the weekend before cooler air arrives early next week.
Why is Europe so hot again?
Earlier this week, hot and dusty air from north Africa moved onto the Iberian Peninsula, intensifying under sunny skies and dry conditions. On Thursday, El Granado in south-west Spain reached 45.7°C (114°F), the country's highest temperature recorded this year. It's unusual for the annual maximum to occur outside July and August.
Image source: BBC Weather
Image caption: Much of central and southern Europe has been experiencing temperatures around 10°C above average this week, with the hottest weather centered around Spain and France.
The hotter weather has since spread northwards and eastwards into other parts of southern Europe. Orange extreme heat warnings are in place through Saturday in:
- Spain
- Southern France
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Serbia
The hottest spots in Spain will continue to exceed 40°C this weekend and early next week, even in the Erbo valley, which typically sees temperatures around 20°C at this time of year.
Image source: BBC Weather
Image caption: Highs of 39°C are expected in Zaragoza this weekend, equal to the city's highest September temperature on record.
Parts of southern France, including the Ardeche region, will see temperatures in the high 30s for the next few days, possibly touching 40°C locally. Further east, air temperatures in Greece and Turkey have been easing this week, but there could still be a few days in the high 30s early next week.
Sea surface temperatures in the central Mediterranean remain well above average, by around 4°C in places.
Is a heatwave heading for the UK?
Warmer air will push into the UK this weekend as winds turn more southerly. However, it won't be as extreme as the heat gripping southern Europe. This is due to the short-lived nature of the southerly winds and increased cloud cover.
Sunday will be the warmest day of the weekend, with some rain, especially in the north-west. Temperatures across England and Wales will generally be in the low to mid 20s Celsius, with parts of the south-east potentially reaching 27°C or 28°C. Scotland and Northern Ireland will be around 15°C to 20°C—warmer than average but not as hot as further south.
The warmth is expected to fade quickly as fresher Atlantic air and rain-bearing fronts arrive through next week, making a return to heatwave conditions unlikely over the next 10 days.
Keep up with the latest longer range forecast by reading BBC Weather's monthly outlook.
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