UK weather: Temperatures of 31C could hit some parts but warnings in place for Scotland
The burst of hot autumn weather comes after an August heatwave which saw temperatures reach 34C (93.2F) for six days running.
Saturday 12 September 2020 22:43, UK
The UK will see a north-south split in terms of weather over the weekend, with "tropical continental air" bringing hot sunshine and temperatures to the South.
Temperatures could rise into the 30s during the early part of the week, with 31C (87.8F) expected in some parts on Tuesday.
It comes as police warn people against meeting in large numbers for a "party weekend" in the hot weather, before stricter coronavirus rules come into force on Monday.
This week, Boris Johnson said the government was bringing in the so-called "rule of six" from next week in England, meaning groups of no more than that number can legally meet up, either inside or outdoors.
Tougher new lockdown measures are also being imposed in the West Midlands, from Tuesday - while from midnight on Saturday, the same rules applied in Lanarkshire.
John Apter, the chairman of the body representing police officers, said he feared "alcohol and warm weather" could combine over the next 48 hours before the measures take effect.
"It definitely feels like one last blast of summer even though we are, meteorologically speaking, in autumn," said forecaster Bonnie Diamond.
She added that the "tropical continental air pushing up from a southerly direction in combination with light winds" will see temperatures reach 29C (84F) by Monday, and remain into Wednesday.
However, there is also the chance of some thunderstorms mixed in.
The September heat follows on from an August heatwave which saw temperatures top 34C (93.2F) for six days running last month.
Simon Partridge from the Met Office has told Sky News that this is "the warmest September since 2016".
He said: "The last time we saw temperatures top 30C (86F) was four years ago, on 13 September when we saw a high of 34.4C (93.9F) in Gravesend in Kent."
The highest temperature ever recorded in September was 35.6C (96F) on 2 September 1906.
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But further north, it is a different story, as forecasters issued a weather warning for western Scotland.
Parts of the country will be hit by torrential downpours that could bring almost a month's worth of rain in just one day, with a yellow weather warning in place until Sunday evening.
The Met Office says as much as almost 6in (150mm) of rain could fall in hilly areas.