Met Office say 'no signals' of sunshine to return ahead of Bank Holiday weekend

24 August 2023 , 12:49

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This Met Office weather map is for Saturday (Image: Met Office)

Brits are facing a wet and windy bank holiday weekend as there is no sign of hot weather in the coming days, the Met Office has warned.

The run of good weather came to an abrupt end in many parts of the UK this morning as many faced battered by downpours. Yesterday, the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for lightning and thunderstorms that came into force today.

The band of rain had moved through and brought disruption to the south coast. Forecasters have said that the weather shows little sign of improving. The sunny weather that bathed much of the UK for the past week is set to disappear, Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Steven Keates warned.

This Met Office map shows a band of rain coming across the UK on Saturday (Met Office)

And sadly the summer bank holiday looks set to be a washout in many places. Mr Keates said: “While showers are never too far away through the weekend, there will still be drier spells around and where there are breaks in the cloud on Sunday in the south it should feel quite pleasant.

“Areas to the southeast will see fewer showers with more in the way of bright or sunny spells on Saturday and Sunday, though temperatures are likely to remain around average for the time of year.

Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts

"Areas further north and west will see more frequent showers, some of which will be heavy, and will at times extend south into central areas of England and Wales on Saturday and Sunday. 'Monday, which is a bank holiday for those in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, will probably see a band of showery rain clear from eastern England early in the day, with sunny spells and scattered showers following on for most places. There are no signals for significant heat in the current forecast period.”

The washout weather comes as music fans descend on Reading and Leeds Festival, Creamfields, Victorious and All Points East over the weekend, with the last stretch of the summer holidays threatened to be ruined by rain. However, the Met Office has said that hurricane season in the Atlantic could bring warmer and drier weather still.

Met Office forecast

Today:

Sunshine and showers for many. Some of the showers could be heavy and thundery across southern England. Feeling fresher in the northwest, but still warm in the southeast.

Tonight:

Any heavy showers and thunderstorms across the southeast easing with clear spells developing for much of England and Wales. Further showers across the north and west later. Feeling cooler.

Friday:

A mixture of sunny spells and showers for most. Showers most frequent in the north and west with a risk of hail and thunder. Driest and brightest in the southeast.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

Changeable with sunshine and showers on Saturday, locally heavy. Turning cloudier on Sunday with rain pushing across east. Some showers or rain possible on Monday. Breezy at times.

Joe Smith