Fears about the “end of summer” have eased after forecasters said temperatures may reach the mid-20s in late September.

The Met Office said that, while temperatures are unlikely to exceed the annual high of 32.2C recorded in Surrey in June, the country might still enjoy hotter-than-average weather in early autumn.

This could make up for one of the wettest July months on record followed by a mixed bag of sunshine and rain in August.

It comes after forecasters said that they could not rule out the current hot spell being the last this year before temperatures taper off.

On Thursday, parts of south east England will be battered by rain as the Met Office  issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms, bringing an end to the dry weather enjoyed on Wednesday.

The warning will be in place across parts of Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire, including Canterbury, Brighton, and Portsmouth between 7am and midday on Thursday.

According to the forecaster, a yellow warning for thunderstorms brings an increased risk of damage to buildings due to lighting strikes and flooding of homes.

Forecasters said that, as we approach hurricane season in the Atlantic, the weather can become increasingly “unpredictable” as tropical storms push drier and warmer conditions our way.

Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said: “Seeing annual highs becomes increasingly unlikely as we approach autumn.

“Temperatures are likely to be near average at the beginning of September (but) there are signs that temperatures will be above average later in the month.

“The average is high teens possibly beyond the further south and east you go.

“The mid-20s wouldn’t be unheard of.”