'Weather bomb' storm threatens gale-force 80mph winds as UK basks in freakishly warm September heat

From the Newshound archive · first published 30 September 2026 · last updated 1 October 2026.

A rapidly deepening "weather bomb" is set to batter Ireland and western Britain with gale-force winds of up to 80mph, rough seas and heavy rain over the next 24 hours, even as southern England swelters in temperatures reaching 25C. Two low-pressure systems are merging west of Ireland in a process called explosive cyclogenesis, with spring tides raising the risk of coastal flooding. London endured a rare September "tropical night" — temperatures staying above 20C until dawn — described as "historically late" and "unknown for time of year". Remnants of Hurricane Polo are being drawn northwards, with Edinburgh also recording its own tropical night.

Seas could overtop coastal defences as the storm coincides with unusually high spring tides.

Southern England could see temperatures climb to the mid-twenties this week, with overnight lows staying around 19C.

Thunderstorms have been forecast for London, with heavy rainfall also threatening further south as the warm, humid air mass clashes with the incoming system.