Parts of the United Kingdom are expected to experience temperatures warmer than those in Athens, Greece, early next week, with forecasts predicting highs of up to 26 degrees Celsius. This surge in temperature signals a brief return of late-summer warmth across much of England.

The Met Office indicates that Tuesday will be the peak of this warm spell, particularly in the south-east, where temperatures could reach 26 degrees Celsius. Athens, by comparison, is forecast to see maximum temperatures of around 24 degrees Celsius at the start of the week. Meanwhile, temperatures exceeding 20 degrees Celsius are expected across most of England on Monday and Wednesday, before a slight decline towards the end of the week.

This rise in temperature is attributed to a developing high-pressure system over the UK. According to the Met Office, a deep area of low pressure is forming to the west of the country over the Atlantic Ocean. Although the low-pressure system is not projected to move directly across the UK, it is likely to pull warmer air northward from continental Europe and the subtropical Atlantic, contributing to the above-average warmth.

The southern part of England is predicted to benefit the most from these conditions, enjoying a period of milder and sunnier weather towards late September. Overall, these forecasts suggest a temporary but noticeable deviation from the cooler and typically more unsettled weather that is common during this time of year in the UK.