Parks and seafronts are busy as Brits enjoy a sunny weekend nudging 21C after Tropical Storm Henri’s washouts.
The Met Office said showers on Monday and Tuesday would be followed by 20C sunshine on Wednesday - before next weekend starts a three-week spell of “prolonged” sunshine and dry skies as high pressure “dominates” until the second half of October.
Government weathermen predicted highs in the “lows 20s” next weekend and 20C in October - 5C above average.
Highs up to 25C and “fabulous Indian Summer” days ahead were forecast by British Weather Services.
The Met Office said the South and East will enjoy the best of the sunshine, with just “occasional bouts of wind and rain” in the North and West.
The autumn sizzle will make up for a summer which was colder than every summer bar three in the past 27 years, and the coldest for four years, Met Office figures show.
Britain’s hottest ever October day was the 29.9C on October 1, 201, at Gravesend, Kent.
Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said: “Monday and Tuesday will be unsettled, Wednesday fine and dry and Thursday and Friday cloudier.
“But from the weekend until the second half of October, high pressure is forecast to dominate, with prolonged sunny and dry periods.
“Highs could be in the low 20s next weekend in the South-East, which is above average, and the start of October will feel pleasant for the time of year and could touch 20C. There will be nice, sunny spells, for sure.”
British Weather Services senior meteorologist Jim Dale said: “Just when you thought summer was all over, an Indian Summer is incoming.
“Temperatures are set to rise even further to 23-25C in parts towards the end of the month. There should be some fabulous days to come.”
