London weather: Capital to sizzle in 26C this week - but there's a sting in the tail for commuters

It’s been an unforgettable summer for most Londoners with a series of heatwaves leading an unprecedented spate of wildfires and drought.

While we’ve moved on from soaring temperatures, the good news is that balmy summer climes remain with us even as we inch towards the end of September.

Today (Sunday, September 27) has been a mixed bag with patches of cloud and drizzle, although temperatures have remained stalwart at around 21C.

The mild weather will continue on Monday, with light sunshine and some cloud, along with a respectable peak of 20C.

But Tuesday will see the return of summer with a glorious top temperature of 26C and non-stop rays throughout the day, according to the Met Office.

Sadly, there’s a string in the tail after this spot of good weather. Wednesday, September 30, is forecast for hours of rainfall as precipitation rises above 80 per cent throughout late morning and afternoon.

The Met Office states: “September has been warmer than average for most so far and temperatures are set to rise once again through the next few days.

“Unseasonal warmth will be driven northwards on Tuesday and Wednesday with highs potentially reaching the mid to high 20s Celsius in eastern England.”

The forecaster added that this week’s changeable weather will have “something for everyone” with bouts of “Summer-like warmth”, “autumnal gales”, “heavy rain” and “perhaps even some frost”.

Further patches of rain may follow on Thursday, before a dry spell begins on Friday. The Met’s long range forecast states: “We can expect a drier than average period overall, with lighter winds than average.

“Some interludes of more unsettled weather and stronger winds are likely at times, but there are mixed signals as to where these are more probable. Temperatures are likely to remain warmer than average.”