Met Office speaks out over Indian Summer and '600 mile heat dome' hitting UK
The Met Office has spoken out over claims an Indian Summer could sizzle the country - sending the mercury skyrocketing. Stifling temperatures have been predicted by WX Charts weather maps and charts, which have burned red off the back of Met Desk data.
And James Madden, from Exacta Weather, has also hinted at a possible September heatwave. Other forecasters have hinted the heat this month could be "record breaking" for the ninth month of the calendar year - but the Met Office is unconvinced.
Andrea Bishop, Met Office spokesperson, said when it comes to an Indian Summer, this is not a formal meteorological term. “When talking about an ‘Indian Summer’, this refers to a warm, calm spell of weather occurring in autumn, especially in October and November,” said Ms Bishop.
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“This isn’t a meteorological term we would use. There is not a “600-mile heat dome” and this is not something that the Met Office would say as it is not a meteorological term.” “The Met Office Meteorological Glossary first published in 1916, defines it as 'a warm, calm spell of weather occurring in autumn, especially in October and November’,” the statement reads.
September 21 is considered the first day of autumn, meaning that the heatwave this week will actually be the last blast of summer, forecasters have also pointed out. In the Met Office medium-to-long range forecast, it says: "“Typical autumn weather will probably affect the UK with a mix of weather types through the first half of October.
“Periods of wet, unsettled weather will likely be broken up by the odd short spell of more settled, drier weather. Overall, wetter than average conditions are expected during this period, especially for the south." The forecast, updated today (Tuesday), adds: "Temperatures are most likely to be close to or slightly above average.”