Bank Holiday Monday threatens rain as consultants say ‘take a brolly’
Bank Holiday Monday is threatening changeable weather conditions with experts warning Brits to take a brolly as sunny spells are set to be pockmarked by rain.
Most of the UK will see a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers for the bank holiday, but yellow weather warnings have been issued in Scotland.
The Met Office has issued a yellow thunderstorm warning for northern and eastern areas of mainland Scotland from 11am to 10pm on Monday, with 30mm to 40mm of rain and disruption possible in local areas.
The Outer Hebrides and the Isle of Skye have a separate warning for rain in place from midnight to 9am but it is not expected to be as heavy.
It comes after large parts of the country saw slow-moving showers and thunderstorms throughout Sunday following heavy rain earlier this week.
Localised flooding in the village of Wynard, Durham, on Sunday saw residents wading through thigh-high water
Early clear skies will give way to rain and even thunderstorms in parts of the UK later today (Pictured: Cyclists in Oxfordshire on MOnday morning)
A thunderstorm warning is in place across much of north Scotland from 11am to 10pm on Monday
But the glorious sunshine and temperatures seen across much of the UK on Sunday are not expected to continue into Bank Holiday Monday.
There are 26 flood alerts in place across England, mainly in the south, although residents in County Durham have also been warned of a risk of floodwater.
Images taken on Sunday showed residents wading in thigh-high water near the village of Wynyard.
Residents in affected areas have been warned to avoid using low-lying footpaths and any bridges near local watercourses.
They have also been told not to attempt to walk or drive through flood water.
On Monday Britain’s warmest spots are predicted to be eastern and north eastern parts of England with maximum temperatures of 19C (66F), whereas southern regions are only set to reach 17C (63F).
Greg Dewhurst, meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘There are some subtle differences – I think generally, England and Wales will see less frequent and less heavy showers compared to Sunday, so there should be some longer, drier spells in between.
The Environment Agency issued 26 flood alerts for Monday, predominantly across the south of England, especially between London and Bristol
The mercury at St James’s Park (pictured), central London, rose into the 20s over the weekend
Dorset’s Lyme Regis basked in the sunshine on Sunday, as less than 30 miles away nearly a third of a month’s rain fell within the space of an hour
‘But it is worth, if people are heading out, having a brolly and raincoat as there is a chance almost anywhere of having a shower, true for Northern Ireland too, actually.’
Temperatures will be around average for this time of year ranging from 17C to 19C across the UK, but it will still feel ‘on the fresh side’ under any cloud or rain.
Thicker cloud is expected move in across south-west England by the end of the day with the chance of patchy rain, but any lingering showers should fade as the evening progresses.
The month so far has been wetter and duller than average, with 103 per cent of the normal rainfall for England and Wales — an average of 63.2mm (2.48ins) — having fallen by Friday.
There had only been 137 hours of sunshine by Friday, 69 per cent of the normal total for the whole of May, when the figure would normally be between 70 and 80 per cent for the time of the month.
Unsettled weather is due to continue into the coming week, with showers and longer spells of rain moving east tomorrow and further showers on Wednesday.
