UK weather forecast: Warm, sunny start to bank holiday weekend before big chill sweeps in from the north

Public must continue social distancing no matter what weather lies ahead

The bank holiday weekend weather is expected to contrast sharply between Saturday and Sunday, after a potential warm peak of 25C on Friday.

After a chilly start on Wednesday, temperatures are expected to begin feeling warmer than they were earlier this week, and it will be a dry and clear day for most.

However, the south west of England may see cloudier conditions, with a few scattered showers across the far west of Cornwall.

Cold nights could lead to mist or fog patches in some places, with frost expected to develop across central and eastern areas.

Thursday will see another cold start, with temperatures slowly creeping up to highs of 22C in the south east of England and 18C in Scotland. It will be another dry, fine day with warm sunny spells but that also means pollen levels will begin to heighten again in the heat.

Clear skies on Thursday night will be a treat for stargazers, as a Super Flower Moon is expected to make an appearance. As the last supermoon of 2020, Thursday’s moon will be at its closest point to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated, looking especially large and bright.

The warmest day of the week will arrive as the bank holiday weekend starts on Friday, with highs of 25C expected in London. It will be cloudier in northern Scotland and Northern Ireland, with isolated heavy showers possible in some areas.

However, spring’s unpredictable nature means the warm conditions will not last long and temperatures will start to come down on Saturday. More cloud will develop on Saturday, although there will be plenty of sunshine still to be enjoyed in gardens and balconies.

But Sunday’s picture will be very different, as cold air from the north sweeps down through the country to the south and temperatures plummet by 10 or 11C.

The Met Office warns of potentially long spells of rain “accompanied by strengthening winds and a risk of gales along coasts” as we enter the start of next week.

The changeable weather follows the sunniest April on record for the UK in all UK countries, with Rutland in eastern England receiving about 172 per cent of April sunshine.

The Isle of Wight enjoyed the highest number of sunshine hours, with 279 hours recorded in the month, said The Met Office.

No matter what the weather brings this week, everyone in the UK is urged to stay at home and only go out for essentials, work or exercise as the coronavirus lockdown continues.