Heavy downpours and possible gales are forecast over the bank holiday weekend, with the Met Office urging festivalgoers to prepare for windy conditions. Wet and windy weather will sweep in for the final days of meteorological summer, and most of the UK is set to be hit by some much-needed rain.
Cloudy Skies and Lunar Eclipse
Ahead of the weekend, many skygazers were likely to be frustrated in their attempts to see Friday morning’s partial lunar eclipse “blood moon” with cloudy skies expected for much of the UK. The partial lunar eclipse of the August full moon, sometimes known as the sturgeon moon, will be visible from around 3.30am and reach its peak at 5.12am, with areas such as Devon and Dorset expected to have the best views.
Meanwhile, more than 20 flood alerts, meaning flooding is possible, were in place for England on Friday morning with more heavy rain on the way.
Forecast Details and Warnings
Annie Shuttleworth, Met Office meteorologist, said: “For most areas of the UK, there is at least a chance of a heavy downpour through Friday. Some of these bring the continued risk of thunderstorms.” Saturday also looks wet, and forecasters think only the very far north east of Scotland will entirely dodge the rainfall.
Festivalgoers heading to Reading and Leeds, Creamfields and other live music events have also been warned of unseasonably strong winds. Gusts of up to 35mph are possible on the south coast on Saturday amid an ongoing risk of thunderstorms in parts of England and Wales. The worst of the wet weather will hit the North West, Northern Ireland and north-west Scotland on Sunday.
Windy Bank Holiday Monday
“There is a chance we could see some quite windy weather through the bank holiday Monday, predominantly for more northern areas,” said Ms Shuttleworth. “But I think it will likely be a relatively breezy day for the UK as a whole so that may affect plans if you are outside this weekend at a festival or in a tent. That is something to keep in mind.” There is a chance of coastal gales in parts of Scotland on Monday, the forecaster added.
The change in conditions has come as a relief to many after an exceptionally dry, hot summer in which five heatwaves hit the UK. Most of England and the whole of Wales remain in drought, and experts say drought conditions will continue to worsen until there is sustained rainfall across the country.
