Met Office shares damning response to maps showing 0C Arctic freeze set to grip UK

The Met Office forecasts "pleasantly warm" conditions for most of October.

The service's latest outlook rebukes forecasts by alternative meteorologists, which suggest the majority of the UK is set to face a bitter 0C Arctic chill in the coming weeks. It would be a stark contrast from the 20C temperatures seen in places on Monday, and Tuesday's highs of 18.6C and 18.5C, recorded at Merryfield in Somerset and at Heathrow Airport respectively.

But opinions among forecasters are hugely split, as the Met Office believes this warm pattern will continue for some time yet. Its long-range forecast reads: "High pressure is expected to prevail, leading to plenty of dry, settled weather... Temperatures will most likely be near average or in places pleasantly warm by day, at least at first, but with some chilly nights and chance of isolated frost where skies remain clear."

The passage, published on the Met Office website, refers to the period of Sunday October 12 to Tuesday October 21, after which the pattern is thought to get more unsettled.

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And the recent warm weather reflects the forecast - as published by the Mirror - of sunshine and clear skies for most of the UK. We told you 18C was likely in several regions at the start of the month and, either side of Storm Amy on the weekend, this has indeed been the case.

The mercury reached at least 18C in Somerset, Greater London, and even Aberdeenshire among other spots on Tuesday. Looking ahead, Nick Finnis, a meteorologist with NetWeather, said: "Later in the week, high pressure will start to build more widely from the southwest, with more widespread drier and settled conditions across the UK."

The Met Office does, though, recognise it will get colder towards the end of the month but, unlike the Met Desk forecasters, is yet to state how much so. The long-range forecast adds: "There is however a small chance that it could turn colder and more showery from the east through mid-October. A breakdown to something more unsettled will probably develop towards the end of this period (Tuesday October 21)."

With reference to Wednesday October 22 to Wednesday November 5, the Met Office says: "The final third of October will likely see a transition to more unsettled conditions across the UK, with high pressure slipping away, though the timing and manner of this is low confidence.

"Whether this takes the form of successive weather systems moving in from the Atlantic or a rather slower-evolving weather pattern remains to be seen, but there is a greater chance of most if not all places seeing spells of rain or showers and possibly strong winds later in the month, and continuing into the start of November. Temperatures will probably be close to average overall."