It may not seem like it at the moment for sun-starved Brits, but temperatures are about to rise again.
We said goodbye to summer with grey skies and thunderstorms, and Autumn has arrived with heavy rain every day for most. Some have been left wondering if that's it for a nice weather with others left reaching for the holiday brochures.
Wet and windy weather has followed the warmest summer on record, but there will be some relief from the rain for many in the coming days with some certain regions enjoying a welcome 25C warm blast. But the question on many Brits' lips is if it will stick around - and if we will see an Indian summer?
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But what is it exactly, how common is it and what are out chance of us having one this year? We've put together a handy little guide as hopes are raised that we've not seen the last of the sunshine just yet.
What is an Indian summer?An Indian summer is a spell of unusually warm and dry weather that occurs during Autumn.
It usually happens from late September, October and November.
Many believe a true Indian summer can only take place after the first frost, which often comes about in the final month of the season.
The chances this year
Don't be fooled by all this non-stop rain right now, things are looking up.
The Met Office are sure it won't stay this way, and things are going to pick up soon and, crucially for an Indian summer, stay that way into October.
The weather service's three-month forecast, which charts the climate all the way to the end of October, says: "The chance of a warm period is higher than normal."
The Weather Outlook's Brian Gaze added: "Summer isn’t over just because of an unsettled spell. Warmer periods are expected from the second week of September, approaching 30C, with October also due pleasant warmth and highs around 23C at times."
Where does the term come from?Despite its name, not India.
While the exact origin of the term remain uncertain, it likely originated in the eastern United States. It is thought to be related to Indigenous Americans using the favourable conditions to hunt.
It was first used in the east of the US, in a letter written by Frenchman John de Crevecoeur, which was dated 17 January 1778. In his description of the Mohawk nation, he writes: “Sometimes, the rain is followed by an interval of calm and warm which is called the Indian summer.”
Recent baking Autumns
Heatwaves in the UK in Autumn are not as uncommon as you may think.
It may not have been late enough into the year to be classed as an Indian summer, but back in 2023, the start of the month brought seven consecutive days with a temperature exceeding 30C.
In fact, a temperature of 33.5C was recorded in Faversham, Kent, on September 10, which was later confirmed as the hottest day of that year.
The UK went on to enjoyed its warmest October weather for five years with temperatures of 25C felt in parts of the south, including London.
