Unusually high temperatures are forecast for parts of the UK on Thursday, with warm air affecting the south and east. Eastern England is likely to experience afternoon highs of about 5-8C above typical mid-October values, potentially peaking at 23C.
Meanwhile, colder conditions will affect northern areas, with temperatures in much of Scotland and Northern Ireland remaining around the seasonal norm. A weather front dividing these air masses will bring rain, moving slowly southwards throughout Thursday, affecting northern England, Wales, and parts of south-west England.
By Friday and into the weekend, this chillier air is expected to spread across the entire country. Daytime temperatures will settle near the October average, ranging from 10 to 16C across the UK. Nights will also turn cold, with single-digit lows in most areas and a chance of frost and patchy fog.