Easter washout as Brits brace for 500-mile large storm and 50mph gusts from France
The spring-time scorching weather Brits have enjoyed is set to be replaced by a giant storm of heavy downpours and strong winds as celebrations get underway for Easter this week
Brits are facing soggy Easter eggs as a 500-mile-wide storm from France brings days of rain. After the 24C hottest day of the year on Saturday, our month-long dry spring sizzle will be replaced by showers from today.
And these soakings are all set to put a dampener on the school holidays. Stormy gusts of up to 50mph and rain are due on Wednesday, with the worst in the west.
Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are set for more downpours, threatening difficult conditions for millions travelling to visit family and friends. The weekend and Bank Holiday Monday will see even more showers.
But weather experts say some sunny spells pushing towards 20C will also boost the long weekend. The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: “After the long fine spell, the shift to wetter conditions just in time for Easter will feel like rotten timing to many.
“Some parts could see heavy rain, but a nationwide washout looks unlikely. Temperatures will generally be lower than recently.
“But at this time of the year it is likely to feel quite warm when sunny spells develop.”
A Met Office forecaster added: “The weather will be much more mixed, with low-pressure systems often bringing rain, some heavy, and showers.
“Gusty winds will accompany some heavier showers, with a risk of hail and thunder. And there will be brighter spells at times.”
It comes as drivers face a “hat-trick of hold-ups” as the Bank Holiday weekend coincides with the end of school holidays. The RAC said traffic will be “equally severe” on Thursday, Good Friday and Saturday as millions of road trips get under way.
RAC breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson urged drivers to expect “extremely high levels of traffic from Thursday onwards”.
She said: “The late Bank Holiday weekend clashes with the end of the Easter break for many schools – which we think will change the nature of this year’s getaway.”
She is predicting “a hat-trick of hold-ups on Thursday, Friday and Saturday as drivers visit family and friends”.
On Good Friday, the lengthiest hold-ups are expected to be between 11am and 1pm.
Network Rail is conducting engineering work in several locations over Easter, causing disruption to a number of train routes.
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