England’s enjoyed the hottest summer EVER on record – and the heat is set to last
This summer in England smashed records dating back to 1910 - while the average temperature in the UK as a whole matched the table-topping scorchers of 2006, 2003 and 1976
ENGLAND basked in the hottest summer EVER this year — and the heat is set to last well into autumn.
The Met Office today confirmed that sky-high average temperatures of 17.2C — including night and day readings — from June to August 2018 made it a record-breaking scorcher.
And in the UK as a whole the summer was the joint-warmest since records began more than a century ago.
Nationwide temperatures topped the league table dating back to 1910 — joining the sweltering summers of 2006, 2003 and 1976.
To the nearest 0.1C, all four years saw an average temperature including night and day for the summer of 15.8C.
But England saw its hottest summer on record, with the 17.2C average temperature narrowly beating 17.0C witnessed in 1976.
Summer 2018 was notably dry and sunny too as the arid conditions witnessed in June and July offset the more average August.
Hinting at the possibility of this year being a record breaker, Dr Mark McCarthy from the Met Office said last month: "It’s clear that the meteorological summer of 2018 is exceptional, simply for the consistent levels of warmth seen throughout the period so far".
And forecasters say the sweltering summer weather looks set to last right through to November.
Above-average temperatures are being predicted as weather experts say high-pressure systems will hold off much of the cold and wet weather.
The Met Office said in its three-month outlook covering August, September and October that there is "an increased chance of high-pressure patterns close to the UK".
Sea surface temperatures at "near-record levels" following the hot weather also make above-average temperatures more likely.
The report said: "This would result in more settled UK weather conditions overall.
"The likelihood of above-average temperatures is greater than normal, but while the chances of below-average temperatures are considerably smaller, they remain a realistic possibility."
Temperatures this week are forecast to be in the high teens and low-20s right up to the weekend.
But with warmth comes the risk of some brief but powerful spells of weather later this week.
A Met Office spokeswoman said that thunder and hail storms could hit the UK on Friday — although a weather warning it is not yet looking likely.
She said: "On Thursday we are looking at some heavy showers for the northern half of England. There's some potential for thunder and hail.
"Also on Friday that becomes a little bit more widespread with a chance across much of the country."
Meanwhile the heat appears to be playing havoc with Britain's flora.
Stunning pictures show a virginia creeper which has turned red "unusually early" at a historic country manor.
Sandy Stewart noticed the breathtaking flower — which is meant to turn red during mid-to-late Autumn — turned red a month early.
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Sandy, 85, who lives at Ardvorlich House, Perthshire, said: "It goes up like ivy outside the front half of the house.
"It normally turns red during Autumn but this year it has turned red unusually early.
"It is really stunning to look at because of the wonderful colour and I would say it gives the house a lot of character.
"We are certainly all chuffed by it. I just wonder what could have caused it to turn red this early."
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