Washout bank holiday feared as heavy rain crosses UK

Updated

Bank holiday Monday looks set to be a washout as a band of heavy rain crosses the UK.

But holiday makers will not have to endure snow in May as milder weather looks to be on its way.

Forecasters are predicting a chilly start to Sunday before a blanket of heavy cloud traps air and forces temperatures up but leaves the UK with a grey and dismal day.

And while some parts of Northern Ireland and western Scotland have a bright start to bank holiday Monday, for most of the UK it will be wet and windy for much of the day before brightening from the west in the afternoon.

But the recent cold snap looks to be coming to an end, with temperatures expected to reach the high teens by the end of next week.

Sophie Yeomans, a forecaster at the Met Office, said the recent snowfall was likely to be a thing of the past.

She said: "The main risk of snow now is only really up in the mountains of Scotland. Towards the end of next week it will turn much milder and the risk of snow is starting to diminish."

Parts of England and Wales will see a chilly start to Sunday, with temperatures below freezing causing a frost, before a band of cloud moves in across north-western parts of the UK.

Ms Yeomans said: "It will continue moving south east through the day and most areas on Sunday will be turning incredibly cloudy.

"Some parts of the South East will have a bright start but it will turn hazy and the cloud will start to thicken through the day, with some rain arriving.

"Rain will move into central and south-eastern areas through the rest of the afternoon, reaching the South East by the evening."

Temperatures will reach highs of around 13C (55.4F) in the North and 17C (62.6F) in the South.

Monday will see a cloudy start for most areas, before a band of rain moves across the country from the west, with "blustery" winds. Temperatures are expected to peak at 16C (62.6F) in the South East.

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