Weather 'warmest on record for time of year' » Environment » 24dash.com

This year could see the warmest recorded September/October period, forecasters said today.

The average central England temperature during October has been 12.9C.

This is 2.1C above the long term average, said the Met Office, whose records on the subject date back to 1772.

September was already a record-breaking month - and the average temperature over the last two months put together is 14.95C.

The Met Office said that would place this year as the warmest for its September/October figures.

The warmest before this was in 1949, when the average was 14.36C.

This month's figures are currently provisional. They run up to October 28 and assessments will not be finalised for a few days, the Met Office said.

Britain also enjoyed the hottest July on record this year - and with several sweltering months, Britain could be on course for its hottest year on record.

But the Met Office spokesman said it was too early to say as the figures for the hottest years are very close.

He added: "July and September were record-breaking months. September 1 to October 28 is provisionally a record-breaking period.

"The extended summer period of May to September was the warmest on record."

The Met Office's current record for the UK's warmest year is 2003, followed by 2004, 2002 and 2005.

The hottest UK day recorded was on August 10, 2003 when the mercury soared to 38.5C at Brogdale in Kent.

This year the top temperature was recorded at Wisley in Surrey at 36.5C on July 19, while on the same day 34.2C at Penhall set a new record for Wales.

Meanwhile, Westminster Council reported that nearly half the normal amount of leaves have dropped on its streets during October, compared with the same month last year.

Its leaf recycling teams have only managed to collect 22 tonnes so far this month, compared with 41 tonnes in October 2005.

Westminster City Council's Cabinet Member for Street Environment, Councillor Alan Bradley, said: "Without getting into the debate whether or not this is due to climate change, the facts tell their own story that something is definitely going on which we can't fully explain."

Copyright Press Association 2006