Friday could reach a balmy 26C as high pressure builds from the south and brings a prolonged spell of fine, warm weather for the late May bank holiday weekend, the Met Office has said.
The best of the sunshine across the bank holiday weekend is expected across England and Wales, according to Met Office forecaster Craig Snell, who said temperatures will remain above normal and could become “very warm” again. He added that the general trend points to the fine conditions continuing after the bank holiday, though it is too early to give exact maximums for the weekend itself.
Unsettled Start to the Week
Before the warmth arrives, the first half of the week will be changeable and often unsettled. Monday is set to be a day of sunshine and showers, some of which could be heavy with the occasional rumble of thunder, before a band of rain moves across most of the UK later in the day, Mr Snell said. Temperatures at the start of the week will feel subdued for the time of year.
Blustery conditions are expected into Tuesday, with wind and rain – sometimes heavy – along with thunder. The unsettled theme continues, but temperatures will begin to climb nearer to what is typical for the end of May, the forecaster added.
Transition to Drier and Brighter Conditions
Wednesday will bring a mixture of sunshine and showers, but a shift will become noticeable in the south of England, where temperatures will climb towards 20C. By Thursday and Friday, high pressure will take charge, bringing increasingly drier and brighter weather, particularly for England and Wales, Mr Snell said.
The transition is driven by a build of high pressure from the south, drawing up warmer air. On Friday, maximum temperatures could reach 26C in the south east – hotter than Athens, which is forecast to see 25C. Other inland cities such as Swindon, Birmingham and York are also predicted to hit around 26C on Friday.
Bank Holiday Weekend Outlook
That warmth is expected to hold through the bank holiday weekend. In London, highs of 26C are predicted for Friday, with some projections suggesting temperatures could reach 28C or 29C over the weekend itself. The Met Office anticipates a “good deal of fair, warm weather” for the UK.
Scotland and Northern Ireland are likely to see cloudier conditions and some showers, but will still be significantly warmer than the preceding week. Glasgow is forecast to reach at least 20C from Friday through the weekend, Edinburgh at least 21C, and even Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles could see highs of 16C or 17C.
While the outlook is predominantly settled, thundery showers are possible later on Friday in some areas. No yellow thunderstorm warnings are currently in place for the bank holiday weekend.
Mr Snell said the bank holiday looks “a lot better than what we’ve had over the last week or so”, noting that indications are for a marked improvement compared with recent unsettled conditions.
For context, the warmest late May bank holiday weekend on record was 32.8C on 29 May 1944, while May 2007 saw a deep depression bring rain and strong winds with temperatures struggling to reach double figures. The average temperature range for May in the UK is typically between 9C and 15C. The current forecast is significantly above these averages, and such good weather tends to boost consumer spending, with sales of fizzy drinks, juices and garden furniture rising when temperatures exceed 18C.
