Gale-force winds to batter Britain before heatwave

Britain will be battered by 50mph winds and heavy rain over the weekend, weather forecasters have warned.

Rough seas could see waves reach heights of four metres and more than 30mm of rain has been predicted in Wales, as the Environment Agency has issued 13 flood alerts in Southeast England.

Chief Forecaster at The Weather Channel Leon Brown told AOL Travel: "Strong winds are likely along the Channel and around South Wales and Southwest England on Saturday afternoon, but we don't expect mean speeds to reach full gale force inland. Winds will be close to gale force over the sea and coasts and seas will be rough with significant wave heights off the Southwest reaching three to four metres.

"Gusts of up to 50mph are likely over coastal areas and inland exposed high ground in Devon and Cornwall, along South Wales coasts and along the south coast of Dorset and Hampshire to the Isle of Wight."

Mr Brown says showers are expected tomorrow, and then more rain early Saturday sweeping east, although this rain will move a little faster so after a wet start to Saturday it will become brighter with sunshine and showers from mid to late morning. "It will be quite windy over the South with fresh and locally strong and gusty westerly winds," he adds.

"A lot of showers again on Sunday with some heavy local downpours from Central England northwards. The far South and Southwest though could fair a lot better and just see isolated showers and more sunshine.

"It will feel cool everywhere in moderate to fresh west to northwesterly winds, with temperatures struggling to lift much above 14C."

Next week is expected to be cooler with some showers and while the rest of the week and next weekend is still uncertain, Leon says "it looks like the South will stay dry and become a bit warmer while the north could stay more unsettled with further rain at times, and may turn quite cool again later."

The good news is that temperatures in the South may reach 21C by next weekend.

Forecasters have also said a Mediterranean-stye heatwave is set to warm up Britain towards the end of May.

Some weather experts suggest temperatures could reach highs of 28C , thanks to a build up of high pressure from Spain.

Exacta Weather expert James Madden told the Mirror: "It's going to get particularly warm from the middle of the month.

"The temperature could climb into the mid and high 20s in southern England and it will be above average for the rest of the country.

"Within the next ten days we should begin to see lots of sunshine and pleasant weather and that is set to continue until the start of June.

"This is going to be the first big heatwave of the year."

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