Autumn chill to arrive this week as temperatures set to drop

Temperatures are set to drop across the UK during the week ahead, bringing an end to a run of warmer-than-average autumn weather.

By Wednesday, afternoon highs are expected to range from 11C (52F) in northern Scotland to 17C (63C) in southern England.

It will mark a significant change from the summer-like warmth that has brought temperatures of up to 28C over the last week.

If the thermometer fails to reach 20C anywhere in the UK, it will be the first time that has happened since 11 June.

Mild end to weekend before temperatures tumble

In south Wales, the Midlands, East Anglia and southern England, early mist and fog could linger for a while in a few locations on Sunday.

However, once this clears sunny spells are expected.

More cloud will develop in north Wales and northern England with the chance of a few spots of rain.

Northern Ireland will be even cloudier, with some outbreaks of mainly light rain and drizzle.

The wettest weather will be found across Scotland with heavy rain likely in the west, accompanied by wind gusts of 40mph or more in the far north-west.

Temperatures will generally be a few degrees above the seasonal norm and could possibly reach 23C in the sunniest parts of southern England.

A weather front will erratically move southwards during Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

This will bring outbreaks of rain which will generally be heaviest in northern and western parts of the UK and lighter further east.

It is possible that heavier downpours with thunder and lightning could affect southern and south-eastern England on Tuesday night and Wednesday.

As the rain clears southwards cooler air will be left in its wake with daytime temperatures by midweek expected to be at - or even slightly below - the seasonal average.

Some chilly nights are also expected with a touch of frost possible in prone locations.

Check your local temperature forecasts on the BBC Weather website and app.

A warm autumn so far

With meteorological autumn covering the months of September, October and November, the season is now one-third of the way over.

Met Office figures show that it has been a warmer-than-normal autumn so far, with September being the joint-fourth warmest on record for the UK as a whole.

With a mean average temperature of 14.6C, it was 1.6C above the long-term average.

The longer-range prospects for autumn predict more of the same.

It is forecast to be warmer and wetter than average with the chance of stormy weather later in the season - partly due to the developing very strong El Niño in the Pacific.

The UK is on track for one of its warmest years on record, according to the Met Office.