UK weather: Long Indian summer will give way to sharp winter freeze as La Nina effect looms

Forecasters have predicted a milder autumn than usual in the UK, with temperatures remaining slightly higher than the average. However, they have also warned that Britons are set for a colder than normal winter in 2016.

Over the last three years, the UK has seen mild, wet and windy winters. However, weather experts have noted that the strong El Nino has now transitioned into a weaker La Nina in the ocean, which could bring more extreme winter chills this year.

"As we look ahead to winter... the evidence does appear to suggest some colder risks in western Europe in December," said Dr Todd Crawford, chief meteorologist for the Weather Company. "The drastic change from El Nino conditions to weak La Nina conditions may help drive a different pattern this winter."

However, the winter chill is unlikely to hit the UK until December. Through October and November, warmer than normal conditions have been predicted across the country, prompting some to refer to it as a return of Britain's "Indian Summer".

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: "There will be warmer than normal weather for the beginning of autumn. Even though the beginning of October will see nothing like the 34C heat of a few weeks ago, the weather will be fairly pleasant for the time of year."

Although temperatures are expected to stay mild throughout October, the Met Office has predicted wet and windy weather for many, particularly in northern and western parts of the country. The weather forecasting company has also released their annual list of names for the storm season, which is due to begin soon.

A Met Office forecaster said: "Through the remainder of [the first half of October], a continuation of the changeable conditions are likely with stronger winds and showers or longer spells of rain, interspersed with drier, brighter spells."