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Washout for parts of UK over May bank holiday weekend

A window onto a street with raindrops in the foregroundBBC Weather Watcher / Motown Mark
Elizabeth Rizzini
Lead Weather Presenter

It is all change this bank holiday weekend as wet and windy weather approaches from the west.

It has been exceptionally dry and sunny so far this meteorological spring.

In fact, the UK is well on track to be one of the driest springs in more than a century and sunshine amounts could rival spring 2020, which was the sunniest on record. This year has been the sunniest spring on record for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

However, the area of high pressure towards the north that has kept us dry and the weather settled is now pulling away to the east, allowing low pressure systems to push in from the Atlantic.

A pressure chart showing low pressure moving in from the westBBC Weather

By Saturday the area of high pressure is further north and east allowing weather fronts to sweep in from the west bringing wetter and windier conditions for all

Welcome rain for some

While arguably the timing could be better and rain could ruin many an outdoor plan over this long weekend, the wet weather will be welcome for parched parks and gardens.

Many sites have seen less than 30% of the average rainfall so far this spring.

In fact some parts of the UK, especially across Scotland and north-west England have seen no measurable rain since the third week of April.

Rivers have hit exceptionally low levels this May and the Environment Agency has warned of a "medium" risk of drought without significant rainfall.

The dry, sunny spell of weather has also led to a larger area of the UK being burned by wildfires this year compared with any other entire year.

Parched earth in the foreground of a field with trees and cloud in the backgroundBBC Weather Watchers / june gothika

The earth is parched here in Stockton on the Forest in York. Recent light rain has just run off without being able to soak into the hard ground. Surface water flooding can often arise following an extended dry period for this reason

Friday marks the last widespread dry day of the week. There could be a frost for some on Friday morning which could well be the last of the season.

There will be lots of sunshine which will turn hazier through the afternoon in the west.

Westerly winds will pick up and rain will arrive in Northern Ireland and perhaps western Scotland by the end of the day.

Bands of rain will then sweep eastwards throughout the night along with brisk winds for western coasts.

A stretch of beach to the left with boats, to the right a road runs parallel with houses and trees in distance under a blue skyBBC Weather Watchers / Rockdodger

Inverclyde in western Scotland has been particularly dry and sunny with high pressure and north-easterly winds dominating

Saturday will be cloudy with further pulses of rain during the day, westerly winds and perhaps a few brighter spells developing to the lee of high ground in eastern Scotland and across eastern England.

Sunday will be a breezy day with the windiest conditions again in the north-west. It will be a day of sunshine and showers with the bulk of the showers in the north-west and the best of the sunshine to the east of high ground. It will be largely dry in south-east England where temperatures could reach 22C.

The bank holiday on Monday is looking cooler, another day of sunshine and showers, with the greater chance of showers in the south. The unsettled theme continues for the rest of the week, which is half-term for some, with further heavy rain on Tuesday.

A pier stretching out into rough seas to the right, with a descending footpath on the left, two cars, under grey, with cloudy skiesBBC Weather Watchers / Walking Tractor

North Sea coasts such as Cromer in Norfolk have often been cloudy and chilly with a brisk onshore wind. Fortunes here will change as the wind turns westerly into the weekend and it will feel a lot warmer

Further ahead

Through the second half of next week it looks as if high pressure may build in once more towards the southern half of the UK. The dry, sunny weather will return here and temperatures will once more peak in the low to mid 20's.

Across north-western areas of the UK it will stay unsettled with showers and longer spells of rain at times.

Check your local BBC Weather forecast here.

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