Britons urged to take precautions during ‘unusual’ warm spell this weekend

Highs of around 26C are expected on Sunday, forecasters said, which would make the UK hotter than Los Angeles or Mykonos in Greece.

The hottest temperature recorded in the UK in October was in 2011 in Gravesend, Kent (Gareth Fuller/PA) (PA Wire)

Britons seeking to make the most of an unusually warm spell this weekend are being urged to take precautions as not all beaches have lifeguards outside peak season.

Parts of England and Wales are expected to bask in sunshine and warm temperatures far higher than the October average of 13C (55.4F).

Highs of around 26C (78.8F) are expected on Sunday, forecasters said, which would make the UK hotter than Los Angeles or Mykonos in Greece.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has urged sun seekers to check tide times and have a means of calling for help if they want to go far into the sea.

The charity’s National Water Safety partner Samantha Hughes said: “Remember to float to live. Tilt your head back with your ears submerged, try to relax and breathe normally, move your hands to help you stay afloat.

“Control your breathing, then swim to safety or call for help. If you see someone else in danger at the coast, please call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.”

The charity added that RNLI lifesavers will still be keeping people safe on 21 beaches this weekend and its lifeboat volunteers are ready to launch every day of the year.

A spokesperson for the Seafront Office, which operates on behalf of Brighton & Hove City Council, said its officers are looking at adding more beach patrols over the weekend.

They also said that the water is still 17-18C (62.6-64.4F) which makes it “perfect for getting in and swimming”, but the air temperature outside is colder and people must be wary.

Tourist boards said the “unusual” warm spell is set to give them a welcome boost before the less profitable winter months arrive.

Brighton Pier Group chief executive Anne Ackord said: “After such a wet and windy summer the autumn sunshine is of course welcome and will provide a boost to a typically quieter period.

“We hope to see our resident population and our visitors coming out to enjoy this unexpected bonus.

“Thankfully this weekend won’t be affected by train strikes which cancel out any benefit of good weather as they did last weekend.”

Visit Cornwall chair Malcolm Bell said: “It’s great to have a weekend of good weather, albeit unexpected in October.

“It will be a much-needed boost for outdoor venues with lots of local people taking the opportunity to enjoy their wonderful county.

“In addition, there will be an uptake of some late bookings, but more likely some people visiting friends and relatives in Cornwall.”

Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst said: “It’s been very hot in Europe over recent days and that warm air is going to drift in across quite a bit of the country on Friday and the weekend.

“There is heavy rain across parts of Scotland so it’s not everywhere that will see the warm spells of sunshine.

“Temperatures on Friday should reach highs of around 22C (71.6F), Saturday around about 25C (77F) and then Sunday around 26C, which we last saw in October in 2018.”

He added: “It’s not unheard of, but it’s on the unusual side.”

The hottest temperature recorded in the UK in October was in 2011 in Gravesend, Kent, where temperatures reached 29.9C (85.82F).

It comes after the UK’s joint warmest September on record last month, which saw a 15.2C (59.36F) average mean temperature, equalling the previous record set in 2006.

A heatwave affected much of the country early in the month, with temperatures peaking at 33.2C (91.76F) at Kew Gardens in London on September 9 – the hottest day of the year.