The UK is set to experience "exceptionally warm" weather later this week, according to the Met Office, the UK's national weather service. Temperatures are expected to rise over the next few days, particularly in southern England, where parts of the South East could reach 27°C to 28°C by Friday. This would be unusually warm for late September. Thursday is expected to remain mostly dry across much of England and Wales, with temperatures reaching the low 20s°C in many areas. However, in the north-west of the UK, including western Scotland and Northern Ireland, a cold front is set to arrive by Thursday afternoon, bringing rain and leading to more varied weather conditions over the weekend. This current spell of warm weather follows a particularly dry spring and summer, which has left many parts of England, including London and the South East, in drought. The prolonged period of hot weather has placed additional strain on water resources, with reservoirs and rivers reaching low levels. The Met Office has noted that the recent heatwaves have contributed to the current water shortages, making the upcoming warm weather even more significant in the context of ongoing environmental challenges. Dan Holley, Met Office deputy chief forecaster, explained that once early fog patches clear in the south, Friday will be exceptionally warm for late September, particularly in the South East, where high pressure over the nearby continent will contribute to the heat. He added that a weakening cold front will slowly move southeast over the weekend, bringing temperatures back closer to average. This will lead to a mixed weekend of weather, with Saturday expected to be mostly fine and dry, followed by an increasing chance of rain or showers on Sunday, especially in western areas. Looking ahead, the Met Office has noted emerging signs of increasingly wet and windy weather expected next week. There are indications that wet and windy conditions could develop by Tuesday and continue into Wednesday, with the potential for some coastal impacts in the west and south-west of the UK. Holley mentioned that while the details are uncertain at this stage, a deep area of low pressure could pass close to the UK during the first half of next week. This could bring wet and windy weather to some areas, and combined with high spring tides, it might lead to coastal effects in the west.