Why the UK is going to be warm this week after temperatures plummeted

Temperatures could exceed 20C this week (Picture: Geoffrey Swaine/Shutterstock) The UK is in for an unseasonal warm spell this week thanks to an ex-hurricane thousands of miles away.

Much of the country has seen the mercury drop dramatically in recent weeks after a record-smashing summer, with northwesterly winds bringing a chill over the weekend.

But that is set to change as daytime temperatures are slated to remain above average in many parts of the UK this week – up to 23C in East Anglia on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, nighttime temperatures in parts of England could near the October record of 18.6C.

The warm weather is linked to an area of low pressure passing between the UK and Iceland, which contains remnants of what was Hurricane Isaias.

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Isaias initially hit the coast of Florida last week as a Category 2 storm, wreaking havoc on the Sunshine State. Two people were killed in Alabama and Florida after trees came crashing down on top of properties.

But the hurricane quickly weakened over land.

A resulting area of low pressure is moving out into the Atlantic, where it will merge with another area of low pressure coming out of Canada before making its way towards Iceland by the end of Wednesday.

The warm weather does not guarantee dry, sunny conditions, however. Rain is also expected across much of the country, but will not be enough to ease pressure on areas of England affected by drought.

In its forecast for Tuesday, the Met Office said: ‘Heavy rain moves across England and Wales during the morning with blustery winds, but turning drier and brighter in the afternoon. Heavy showers move into the north later.’

Gales are forecast in the northwest of Scotland for a period, and a narrow corridor of humid ex-tropical air will sweep in before an active cold front which will bring a band of rain south-eastwards on Thursday.

But despite the wetter, windier weather, temperatures in parts of England are expected to exceed 20C again that same day.

An area of high pressure will then move in on Friday, which could remain in place into next week.

This will usher in cooler air again, bringing temperatures back down to average again. ‘The El Niño event is still developing in the tropical Pacific and already it has surpassed the magnitude of previous events including the one in 2015/16’, Met Office climate spokesperson Grahame Madge said.

‘Globally, an El Niño event has several impacts, including altering rainfall patterns and increasing global temperature overall.’ The Met Office’s forecast for Wednesday to Friday states: ‘A band of heavy rain slowly moves south over the next few days, and rather windy in the north. Gradually turning colder and brighter from Friday with lighter winds. Mild.’

Super El Niño conditions are set to bring wetter conditions in late autumn and early winter, the forecaster previously said.

The Met Office explained the weakening of the polar vortex associated with El Niño can cause cold north and northeasterly winds to outcompete the usual warmer North Atlantic drift which influences the UK climate.

Metro previously reported that Londoners had been told to prepare for extreme conditions resulting from the weather event, including gathering enough food to last up to three days.

‘The El Niño event is still developing in the tropical Pacific and already it has surpassed the magnitude of previous events including the one in 2015/16’, Met Office climate spokesperson Grahame Madge previously said.

‘Globally, an El Niño event has several impacts, including altering rainfall patterns and increasing global temperature overall.’

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