The UK is bracing itself for the last summer days as the remnants of Hurricane Maria looks set to batter the British Isles with winds of up to 50 miles per hour.
A Met Office spokesman confirmed that low pressures caused by Hurricane Maria in the Atlantic will affect winds speeds by Friday, battering Western Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland.
The damp weather will then move further south down across Scotland and into England and Wales, as forecasters predict a wet week with some dry spells.
Met Office forecaster Charlie Powell said: ‘Hurricane Maria looks like merging with Hurricane Lee off the east of the US and moving across the Atlantic, with the latest thoughts being for them to pass between the north-west of Scotland and Iceland on Monday or Tuesday next week, October 2 or 3.
People are enjoying the last of the good weather in Britain as the remnants of Hurricane Maria will batter the UK with strong winds
The UK enjoyed a spell of hot weather that rivaled Monaco this weekend although that is set to change
The projected trajectory of Hurricane Maria, which is set to calm significantly before coming anywhere near the UK – yet it will impact weather conditions in Britain and will play some part in bringing strong winds to the coast
‘We may see wetter and windier weather, but they may also draw up higher pressure and warmer weather to the south of the UK.
‘There are a range of outcomes and we need to monitor them in coming days.’
Leon Brown, head of meteorological operations at The Weather Channel, owned by The Weather Company, said: ‘Maria looks like being caught in the jet stream and swinging towards the UK as a deep depression. The worst case would be strong winds and heavy rain.’
That wet weather is expected to continue from next week into October as low pressures remain a feature from much of the UK, the Met Office added.
A Met Office spokesman added that while the weather over this weekend had appeared quite settled, damp weather is going to be remain, with sunnier and drier weather in the west of England and Scotland.
Things will start to cool down on Monday and Tuesday with highs of 70F (21C) and lows of 45F (7C).
Tuesday and Wednesday is expected to be dry throughout the UK, with temperatures hitting highs of 19C in London and Southampton and of 15C in parts of Cornwall and Aberdeen.
People enjoy the settled weather and good views from Primrose Hill, London. The weather for Tuesday and Wednesday is expected to be settled and dry
The fierce winds which will greet the UK early next week come after Britain basked in a ‘Spanish plume’ of hot weather, with holidaymakers taking to beaches in Portsmouth and Weymouth.
Temperatures this weekend were expected to soar to highs of 73F (23C) London putting the capital ahead of Monaco 71F (22C).
Met Office forecaster Charlie Powell said: ‘Warm air means 20C or 21C highs until Wednesday.
‘But Monday will be cloudy and damp and quite wet in Scotland, with Tuesday seeing decent sunshine, and Wednesday seeing more persistent rain move in.
‘And two low pressure systems will bring winds and wet conditions, on Friday and Sunday.’
Met Office forecaster Emma Sharples said: ‘Air is coming from Spain.’
The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: ‘It’s been summer’s final flourish.’
MeteoGroup forecaster George Goodfellow said: ‘Temperatures are good for late September, especially after recent cool weather.’
A ‘Spanish plum’ of hot, high-altitude air from Spain (shown in orange) meant that Britain enjoyed some of the hottest weather since last month
Weymouth saw dozens of visitors this weekend as people tried to soak up the last of the summer sun
The good weather from yesterday continued into Sunday, with thrillseeker enjoying the calm weather in Weymouth
One of the horses photographed in Bradford leans over a fence as the sun begins to set (left). Despite the high weather temperatures these past few days, there are signs that autumn is now on its way (right)
Stunning: Bradford enjoyed a stunning sunset last night as the ‘Indian summer’ nights come to an end