Warmest Halloween on record for the UK

This beats the previous record, which was also set in Kent on Halloween 1968, when the temperature reached 20C in Dartford.

A southerly wind has brought warm air surging northwards from the Azores, which when combined with sunny spells has lifted temperatures to around 10C above normal for the time of year.

While not enough to break the hottest October day on record, which stands at 29.9C, had this warmth occurred tomorrow, on 1 November, it would have been a new November record for the UK, beating the 21.7C reached at Prestatyn, Denbighshire on 4 November 1946.

Record temperatures

Temperatures across all parts of the UK have been significantly above average, but the warmest weather has been over England and Wales. At 1pm on Friday, much of England and Wales had temperatures of 18-22C, with 23C in central London.

Despite largely cloudy skies, Scotland and Northern Ireland were still balmy for the end of October, with 17C in Belfast and 18C in Edinburgh.

However, the summer-like warmth is not set to last, with temperatures taking a tumble into next week as chilly air arrives from the north.

Temperatures are expected to be 10C lower for much of the UK by early next week, with the threat of some frosty nights – particularly in the countryside.

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