The settled autumn equinox is about to give way to a windy deluge as the ‘anticyclonic’ calm is given the boot by an ex-hurricane.
Meteorologists are carefully watching the path of Category-4 Hurricane Gabrielle as she skims the Bermudan coast.
The superstorm will then head towards the Azores, close to Portugal, before U-turning northwards towards Europe.
Its remains, loaded with volatile energy, could nudge the UK’s weather patterns, triggering a change in Britain’s weather, experts warn.
Jim Dale, meteorologist for British Weather Services, said: “Gabrielle is likely to be the first of several hurricanes that could affect our weather as we go through autumn, especially as activity in the Atlantic has been quiet so far.
“The track of the remains of Gabrielle are uncertain, but depending on where they end up, we could see a period of more unsettled weather or a warmer spell.
“While there are no named storms in the forecast, the remains of one of these hurricanes could provide the catalyst for Amy, the first of the season, which is also overdue.”
The quiet transition through the autumn equinox – mid-September when the nights start drawing in – is the result of a huge high-pressure anticyclone covering Britain.
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High and low pressure battle between the Atlantic and Scandinavia
|WX CHARTS
High pressure drives clear skies and light winds, and this week could help temperatures lift into the high teens.
Cloudless overnight skies will, however, bring the risk of frosts in exposed regions, particularly further north.
Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick said: “High pressure continues to dominate on Wednesday, and there is a touch of frost possible, particularly in rural spots.
“Temperatures become milder through the week, though there could still be a touch of frost in the morning.
“The chilly nights are here to stay, all down to high pressure, which is going to dominate our weather over the next few days.”
Honor Criswick says there may be 'a touch of frost possible' as high pressure dominates over the UK
|MET OFFICE
Low pressure, the harbinger of unsettled weather, is forecast to make a return this weekend, she warned.
She said: “High pressure pushes eastwards, and we are keeping our eye on an area of low pressure just to the southwest of Iceland, and there is a chance that could bring in some wet and windy weather later Friday and into the weekend.
“As we head towards the weekend, we could see a change from the west with some wet and windy weather pushing through.”
The Met Office is yet to give its verdict on how much the remains of Gabrielle will affect the UK.
Government forecasters do, however, agree that the unseasonable calm is about to turn more unsettled.
NOAA weather map shows Hurricane Gabrielle’s latest track heading further south
|NOAA
A Met Office spokesman said: “There are signs that the weather pattern could begin to change.
“An area of low pressure to the southwest of Iceland may start to influence the UK, bringing the potential for some wet and windy weather to push in from the west. “However, forecast confidence at this stage is still fairly low, and the timing and extent of any unsettled conditions remain uncertain.”
Temperatures by the end of the week could nudge 20C, he added, as high pressure wedges firm.
He said: “By Friday, temperatures during the day will feel fairly similar to earlier in the week, with highs around 18C in the south and mid-teens further north.
“Nights will be milder where cloud cover increases, but still chilly where skies remain clear.”