SEPTEMBER has started on a high, although the warmth has been fairly subdued when you consider the record: 35.6C, set in Bawtry, South Yorkshire, on September 2, 1906.
That year’s heatwave, from August 31 to September 3, was the most impressive of the past century, with much of Britain reaching 32C. Interesting, too, as it appeared so late in the season: the 2nd was the hottest day of the year. What caused it? Low pressure pulled a hot continental southerly wind across Britain.
This time it was high pressure over Scandinavia drawing up southeasterly winds from continental Europe. Warm, sunny spells took highs into the low-twenties Celsius across the UK on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday brought a change in the north as a front moved slowly southeast across Scotland, breaking up into a band of more patchy precipitation across central and eastern parts of the UK yesterday.
As the weak front clears the southeast today, it will feel a little cooler, but much of England, Wales and Northern Ireland should be fine and dry. Scotland will become rather blustery, although this will ease tomorrow.
So, conditions are good for cycling’s Tour of Britain, starting with the Liverpool circuit today, heading south through Wales and the West Country this week, before ending in London next Sunday. Not too hot, or too windy, with low cloud the only concern.
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Nights will be chilly this week, especially in the north, but daytime highs should be around the average. There are signs of a breakdown into the weekend, with fronts trying to bring rain into the west.
Isobel Lang is a Sky News forecaster
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