UK weather maps burn bright red with September heatwave 'set to start'

UK weather maps have burned bright red as a September heatwave hits the UK and sends the country SIZZLING this week. Maps and charts have earmarked September 18 and September 19 as dates where the UK could bask in mercury hotter than Barcelona in Spain.

People in the South West will enjoy highs of 23C, while some maps and charts from WX Charts hint at 24C highs elsewhere. Other reports in the press suggest the mercury could even top 25C across the two days - in a final mini-heatwave of the year.

The Met Office outlook for tonight explains: "Cloud and patchy rain across the far north of Scotland. Some cloud in the southeast later, but clear spells elsewhere with patchy mist and fog, particularly across parts of northeast England. Chilly in places, especially in rural spots."

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Looking ahead to tomorrow (Tuesday September 17), the BBC adds: "Tomorrow is expected to become largely dry and settled after showers in the far north diminish. There will be plenty of sunshine after early low cloud and fog clears. A warm day."

The early outlook from the Beeb for Wednesday onwards explains: "Wednesday will see patchy low cloud, mist and fog soon diminish leaving plenty of sunshine. A little warmer too. Thursday will be a similar day with areas of low cloud, mist and fog soon clearing leaving plenty of sunshine.

"Warm. Friday will see low cloud and fog to start in places, becoming confined to the north-east later. Some scattered, thundery showers in the south." The Met Office has also given a more medium-range outlook, predicting from September 21 to October: "Settled but often cloudy across many central and northern areas through the weekend, with the best of the sun found to the west of high ground. Whereas showers and some thunderstorms are expected by day across the south.

"Most places away from North Sea coasts will see above average temperatures through the weekend. Early next week, the risk of showers and thunderstorms will reduce across the south, with a very short-lived settled spell likely as the transition occurs.

"Following this transition areas of cloud, rain and stronger winds are expected to push in from the west once again, but the focus for this heavy rain is likely to be across the southern half of the UK, with more settled conditions perhaps holding on for the longest in the north."