Is a UK heatwave in the weather forecast for September?

Autumn has begun - meteorologically speaking - and the weather has turned distinctly autumnal for many of us with blustery showers.

The wet and windy weather follows what was confirmed by the Met Office as the warmest summer on record.

Low pressure has dominated this week bringing the unsettled conditions and while temperatures have been around average, it will turn drier and warmer for the end of the week.

But, will it be a September heatwave or so-called Indian summer?

The Met Office released the new set of storm names for 2025/26 on Monday with Amy, Bram, Chandra and Dave the first four on the list.

Storms can be named by either the Met Office, Met Eireann or KNMI for impacts in the UK, Ireland or the Netherlands.

There are no signs of a Storm Amy in the forecast but it has been wet and windy recently.

On Wednesday, strong winds and heavy rain spread in across the UK, particularly in southern England with a yellow severe weather warning suggesting a risk of localised flooding.

Temperatures this week have been around the early September average of 17 to 22C but warmer air will move in from the near-continent over the weekend.

By Sunday, temperatures across England and Wales should get into the twenties with 24 or 25C possible in East Anglia.

The weather will also turn drier and brighter on Friday and Saturday as a ridge of high pressure temporarily builds.

But the quieter weather is short-lived as more rain spreads eastward on Sunday across the UK.

Some media reports are suggesting a heatwave or 'Indian summer' but temperatures are not expected to reach the official heatwave criteria.

While the term 'Indian summer' is sometimes used to describe a period of warm weather once traditional summer is over, its origin comes from warmer weather experienced later in the autumn - in October or November - after the first frosts.

Experiencing periods of warmer weather in September is not uncommon.

We have seen plenty of examples in the past when August weather has been mixed and has then turned warm and sunny for September.

In 2023, the start of September was very warm with a heatwave bringing seven consecutive days with a temperature exceeding 30C.

It was a significant September heatwave, external - the longest on record - surpassing 1929 and 1911 when there were five consecutive days of 30C or more.

A temperature of 33.5C was recorded in Faversham, Kent on 10 September 2023, which became the hottest day of that year.

Having the hottest day of the year fall in September has only occurred on four years previously.

The hottest September day on record was in 35.6C on 2 September 1906 set at Bawtry, South Yorkshire.

There is no sign in the forecast for temperatures to be anywhere near as high this September.

You can keep up to date with the latest forecast for September with our Weather for the Week Ahead or Monthly Outlook.