Met Office warns of sharp autumn chill ahead as temperatures briefly peak at 23C

Eastern and southern England are set to hit temperatures of 19-23C on Thursday — up to 8C above typical mid-October values — driven by brisk southerly winds pulling warm air up from a deep low-pressure system near Iceland. A weather front already delivering rain to Scotland and Northern Ireland will edge south through the day, bringing a soggy afternoon to northern England, Wales and parts of south-west England. Chillier air will then spread to all parts by Friday and linger into the weekend, with frost and patchy fog expected in some locations.

Scotland and Northern Ireland will turn sunny but blustery after the rain clears, with highs of only 12-15C — a taste of what is coming for the whole country.

Met Office chief meteorologist Ian Lisk warned this week that 'normal weather is a thing of the past' and said the UK could face a colder, drier winter on top of its existing rainfall deficit.