Thursday 24th September
Although Wednesday started sunny, the cold weather front spoilt the middle part of the day with variable cloud, however, as the back edge of the weather front eased away the sun appeared again early afternoon that lifted the temperature to a maximum of 21.2C at 15.04 being 2.2C above average.
Under relatively clear skies, calm conditions again and the cooler air that arrived behind the cold front, the temperature dropped away to reach a low of 7.4C at 02.17 early Thursday being 2.2C below my long-term average.
Muted weak sunshine greeted the new day on Thursday through thin high cloud after a very red sky at sunrise. Today will bring variable cloud and sunny periods with the thermometer once again rising above the September average. The radar indicates a bank of cloud edging down from the northwest this morning that hopefully might thin and clear mid-afternoon.
As the centre of the high pressure relocates towards the Continent on Friday the direction of the air flow will once again change, to come from the north, whilst two weather fronts, both cold, are forecast to pass over on Friday into Saturday morning that will see maximum temperatures edge downwards.
Forecast pressure charts indicate that the recent high pressure will lose control of our weather by Saturday as we begin to come under the influence of twin low pressure systems to the north and northwest of the UK. This will see the breakdown of our recent dry and warm weather to be replaced with a more unsettled outlook with possible rain in a week’s time at the end of the month.
Record-Breaking El Niño Surpasses Previous Benchmarks
Author: Met Office
Tue, 22 Sep 2026
The developing El Niño in the Pacific Ocean, which scientists have been monitoring closely for many months, has now exceeded previous records, making it the strongest event in the observational record.
While forecasts had consistently indicated that 2026 could see an unprecedented El Niño, the latest observations confirm sea-surface temperatures in the central equatorial Pacific have now surpassed levels recorded during any previous event.
This milestone represents a significant moment and is likely to have far-reaching impacts on weather patterns around the world. The Met Office will continue to monitor developments closely as the event builds towards its seasonal peak later this year.
What is El Niño?
El Niño is a naturally-occurring climate phenomenon that develops in the tropical Pacific Ocean. It occurs when sea-surface temperatures across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific become significantly warmer than average. These changes alter atmospheric circulation patterns and can influence weather around the globe.
For the UK that means an increased likelihood of wetter and stormier conditions during autumn and early winter, while later in the season El Nino is associated with an increased risk of cold snaps.