Sales of beer, ice cream and burgers soared as the mercury hit 29 Celsius (84F) in London yesterday, with much of the country also basking in the high 20Cs.

Thousands of people descended on Bournemouth beach this morning to make the most of the sizzling heat, after the mercury rose to a record-breaking 92F (33.3C) at Heathrow.

The Met Office earlier issued a severe 'yellow' warning for rain in Northern Ireland and Scotland and warned that the wet weather could cause travel disruption.

The first week of meteorological autumn has brought a chill in the air as temperatures fell to 0C (32F) in Scotland and 4C (39F) even in the South East of England overnight.

Figures from the Met Office show the three months from June to August were the UK's 12th hottest summer on record, including a new high for the country of 101.6F (38.7C).

For five years the Met office and Ireland's Met Eireann have run the Name Our Storms campaign. This year one of the storms even has a Love Island link and is set to be named Maura.

Temperatures have remained approximately one or two degrees warmer across the UK today as southerly winds bring a late warm spell dubbed the 'Indian summer heatwave'.

After around 27C today, the Met Office forecasts a showery 21C Monday before widespread sunshine from Tuesday as highs climb back to 25C from Thursday for the weekend.

Heatwaves above 86F (30C) for more than two days currently happen once every four years in Britain, but Met Office forecasters say this will increase 16-fold to four a year by 2070.

Warm air from Spain will bring dry and sunny weather across the UK this weekend, starting on Friday, according to the Met Office, with temperatures soaring.

Above-average temperatures will warm Britain tomorrow and on Saturday with highs of 79F (26C) expected before the leftovers of Hurricane Humberto bring heavy rain and gale-force winds.

Brits enjoyed a last blast of scorching summer weather today, with glorious sunshine - but heavy rain and thunderstorms are set to ravage the UK.

Rush hour commuters in London were hit by severe delays with railway lines flooded and several tube stations closed as thunderstorms and a month worth of rainfall hit the UK on Tuesday.  

After a month's worth of rain hit London on Tuesday, forecasters are warning that more storms and potentially deadly floods could batter the UK up until next month.

Soggy September is continuing as flood alerts and rain are forecast for the rest of the week, with meteorologists  issuing wet weather warnings across the UK throughout the weekend.

Floods caused chaos on Sunday as rivers burst their banks and roads overflowed as parts of England and Scotland as the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for heavy rain.

The wettest and windiest weather today will be in South West England and South Wales, before showers fall across the country over the weekend - with the heaviest rain expected on Sunday.

The east is expected to bear the brunt of the rain tomorrow, with the Met Office issuing yellow weather warnings for the region from midnight until 6pm. Pictured: Porthcawl, Wales yesterday.

Heavy rain is set to disrupt roads, trains and buses across Britain today, just days after the country was struck by extensive flooding.

The Environment Agency had six flood warnings in place today - for imminent flooding - and 32 flood alerts, mostly in northern England and East Anglia. Looking ahead, a wet and windy week is predicted.

The Met Office has issued a severe yellow rain warning that will last from midday to midnight tomorrow and stretch from Salcombe in Devon right up to Leeds. Car pictured in Essex today.

The Met Office has issued an amber thunderstorm warning for South East England from 4pm until 9pm which warns of 1.6in (40mm) of rain in as little as one hour which may lead to flash flooding.

Thunderstorms and winds of up to 50pmh are making their way across the UK today and tonight. The autumnal weather will see lightning strike right across southern England, before moving across to Wales.

The Met Office forecast a warm plume from the continent to bring sunny spells, with highs of 19C (66F) by Thursday. But Government weathermen said polar air is set to arrive from the weekend.

Up to two inches of rain will hit Britain during 36 hours of torrential downpours from noon on Friday to late on Saturday, triggering possible travel chaos in Wales and northern England.

Severe weather is predicted to hit large swathes of southern England and Wales from around 6am on Saturday affecting cities including Cardiff, Plymouth, Bristol, and London.

Those across the UK looking to go for a Sunday stroll today should pack an umbrella as rain and showers are expected for most parts.

Those hoping to head out to watch bonfire displays across the UK for Guy Fawkes night tomorrow will have to wrap up warm as 1,200 mile-wide freeze is set to blanket some areas.

The woman in her 60s was killed instantly when a tree crashed onto her while she was driving through Moors Valley Country Park in East Dorset. The Met Office had enforced weather warnings today.

The Met Office say the chance of the UK experiencing an 'extreme summer' like the one in 2018 will increase year-on-year, as will the temperatures experienced.

Boris Johnson was given a rough ride by locals in Fishlake as desperate families across the country brace for more downpours.

The study by the University of Plymouth examined forecast data going back 150 years and focused on upland areas like Dartmoor. They predict there will be more rain in the summer in future.

Britain has endured severe conditions in recent days with a week's worth of rain falling over the South West in six hours this morning, after the coldest night of autumn so far yesterday bringing -10C (14F) lows.

The Met Office is expecting heavy rain and strong winds throughout Saturday and into Sunday, with weather warnings currently in place for the south-west of England as of this morning.

Met Office experts have revealed their long range predictions and suggest the UK will see a milder winter than usual, and appear to have ruled out snow falling on Christmas Day.

The picture captured by the International Space Station shows the wake of Bouvet island in the South Atlantic - the pattern can also be seen on satellite imagery from the same day.

November's dismal wet weather will finally change with torrential downpours making way for drier, colder conditions across Great Britain - with the big freeze expected to begin by the weekend.

Britons have been warned to brace for a frosty night this evening, with heavy fog expected in east Wales, the Midlands and north-west, east, south and south-west England.

Northern parts of the UK will see freezing temperatures and Scotland and the Highlands may see temperatures as low as -9.7C tonight.

With more sub-zero conditions and snow forecast, there are concerns for parts of Britain that thousands of people could struggle to get to the polls on election day on December 12.

A flooding risk remains for England with the Environment Agency imposing 22 alerts and three warnings, while the Met Office has warned Scotland could see 65mph winds and up to 4in of rain.

The man, who is understood to have been sleeping rough, was found by police outside the St John The Evangelist Church in Essex this morning.

Strong winds will hit the country as a deep area of low pressure crosses the UK from the west on Sunday and Monday, bringing gusts of up to 80mph around Irish coasts and 70mph to England.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning which is in place from 3pm tomorrow through to 9am Monday. Gales of 70mph are expected to batter the south west coastline with 26ft waves and spray.

Festive revellers flocked to Leeds city centre last night and battled against wind and rain from Storm Atiyah. Partygoers were seen dressed in full Christmas garb, including a Christmas tree.

The 100mph weather bomb Storm Brendan is set to batter the country this week in what could be the second storm to strike in three days as Britons prepare to head to the polls.

Residents in the Lake District and the Peak District enjoyed Christmas card scenery with fells painted white following wintry conditions that are expected to continue throughout the day.

Snow can be expected at higher levels in Scotland today, with some parts of the UK seeing the arrival of freezing fog - while heavy rain continued to cause problems in other parts of Britain.

The Met Office warned Earth will be about 1.11C above pre-industrial levels in 2020 due to rising greenhouse gases, after Australia endured its hottest day ever with an average high of 41C.

Britain was hit by a week's worth of rain today, with photos showing roads and residential areas submerged with water, after a deluge swept across the country.