The Bank Holiday weekend will begin with a stark weather divide across the UK, with heavy rain and thunderstorms expected in the east while the west enjoys dry and sunny spells. Forecasters warn of a risk of flooding in areas hit by the heaviest downpours, particularly in the north and south-east.
Tom Tobler, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, said: 'There will be quite a clear east-west split over the weekend. There will be a lot of heavy rain about, confined mainly to the east of the UK. In contrast the west will be mainly dry, with just the odd shower.'
Conditions are expected to improve gradually on Sunday, with the east catching up as the rain eases. By Bank Holiday Monday, the whole country should enjoy sunny weather, with temperatures reaching a high of 26C (78.8F).
The unsettled weather will affect major events this weekend, including the Reading and Leeds festivals, where campers face a muddy start. Notting Hill Carnival in London will see rain on Sunday but dry skies by Monday, with temperatures around 23C (73.4F).
