UK hot weather maps show exact date England basks in 26C scorcher - hottest counties

Weather maps show the exact date parts of England could bask in an autumn scorcher with temperatures up to 26C. A map generated by Netweather on Wednesday, September 3, shows the mercury rising into the mid-20Cs on September 17.

The weather map shows the warmest counties would include Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Bedfordshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, South Yorkshire and Cheshire. Greater London and Greater Manchester could also be among the warmest places. Top temperatures in all these areas range from 24-26C, according to Netweather's map.

Another map also generated today by WX Charts shows similar, with 12-hour maximum temperatures of 24-25C in the South of England, East Anglia and the Midlands at 6pm on the same date.

A third map shows a dry end to the same day, with rain only affecting the far north.

It's too soon to say if such temperatures will actually be reached, but the maps for now suggest a warm spell could be on the way compared to the milder, wetter weather seen over recent days.

In its long-range forecast covering September 8-17, the Met Office suggests the later part of that period may see longer spells of drier weather, particularly in the south.

It adds: "Temperatures will likely be close to average or slightly below overall, but may rise above at times in any drier, sunnier spells."

Met Office UK five day weather forecast

Wednesday, September 3 - Sunday, September 7

Heavy rain will gradually clear from northeast Scotland tonight. Elsewhere will be mostly dry with clear spells. Showery rain, some of which will be heavy and perhaps thundery, pushes across southern England and Wales. It will be windy in the far northeast and across southern England at times.

Thursday sees rain, some heavy and thundery, moving northeastwards across England and Wales. Brighter skies follow as showers ease. Scotland and Northern Ireland will see sunny spells and scattered heavy showers.

The outlook for Friday to Sunday is for rain to affect western Scotland on Friday. Elsewhere will be much brighter, with isolated light showers. Saturday brings warm sunshine for many, though it will turn wet and windy from the southwest over the weekend.