The late May bank holiday weekend is set to be a washout for many, with the Met Office issuing yellow warnings for rain and thunderstorms across swathes of England and north Wales from midday on Sunday. Up to 40mm of rain could fall, bringing risks of flooding, power cuts, and travel disruption.
Saturday is expected to remain largely dry and bright, with temperatures reaching 22C in London and south-east England. However, conditions will deteriorate overnight, with persistent rain spreading from Cornwall and East Anglia across the UK. Sunday will see scattered, heavy, and thundery downpours, with frequent hail and lightning strikes possible.
Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth warned: 'If that does fall where the ground is already well saturated from this week’s rainfall, we could see some localised impact – perhaps some spray on the roads – so do take care if you’re out and about, particularly through Sunday.'
Monday will feel cooler and breezier, with scattered showers in north-west England and south-west Scotland. Drier conditions are possible in parts of Wales, Northern Ireland, and south-west England in the afternoon, but heavy and thundery downpours are expected across eastern parts of the UK.
The unsettled weather is predicted to continue into half-term, when many families will be taking a week-long holiday. Craig Snell, Met Office forecaster, said: 'Overall, it’s a pretty mixed picture. Saturday’s probably the best of the bunch. There will still be some sunshine around on Sunday and Monday, but we’ll certainly be dodging downpours.'
This comes after a week of heavy rain that saw a 10-year-old girl, Leah Harrison, killed in a mudslide during a school trip in North Yorkshire on Wednesday.
