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 By Alice Philipson

A hot, sunny week is forecast to culminate in temperatures of around 28C by Thursday – significantly above average for September. 

But by Saturday the UK will struggle to reach above 17C, while rain moving through the North on Wednesday is forecast to move gradually southeastward. 

Conditions are expected to remain unsettled throughout the weekend, with showery outbreaks of rain which could be heavy and prolonged in places. 

On Monday the Met Office said that the weather during June, July and August put 2013 among the top ten warmest summers since records began in 1910. 

The good weather has so far continued into autumn with most of the country enjoying warm and sunny weather this week. 

However, the Met Office have predicted a North-South divide by the weekend as northwestern areas remain generally dry, while the southeast experiences wet and cool conditions. 

Dover will see the highest temperatures, with 17C predicted on Saturday. London is expected to reach a maximum of 16C. 

A Met Office spokesman said: "A northwest southeast division is likely during the weekend, with northwestern areas seeing generally dry weather, with variable amounts of cloud. 

"Towards the southeast, unsettled conditions, with showery outbreaks of rain, which may be heavy and prolonged at times. 

"Temperatures generally around average, though perhaps a little above in any sunshine, but feeling cooler under the cloud and rain." 

Earlier this week, it was revealed Met Office experts suggested that the UK was more likely to experience a cool and wet summer this year. 

Britain then went on to enjoy some of the warmest conditions seen in the past century.