Britons are sure to sizzle on what is likely to be the hottest Bank Holiday Monday since records began.
Temperatures could soar to 28C in parts of England as people round off their three-day weekend – making it the hottest Bank Holiday Monday in 40 years.
The May Bank Holiday was introduced in 1978 and the temperature has never topped the 28C mark.
Bank Holiday Monday in 1999 was 23.6C, while the hottest bank holiday weekend ever was in 1995 when temperatures peaked on the Saturday at 28.6C.
The South East, East Anglia and the Midlands will feel the heat most today.
Met Office forecaster Charlie Powell said the highs of 28C were not going to be widespread.
“That’s going to be the exception rather than the rule. I think for most places, if you take the bulk of England and Wales for example, we’re looking at somewhere around the low to mid 20s mark,” he said.
On Sunday, the mercury hit 22.3C in Edinburgh and 20.8C in Katesbridge in County Down – making for the hottest day of 2018 in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The weather is set to become mixed as the month progresses, and the May 19 wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle draws near.
Royal bride Meghan may be hoping the rain will stay away for her big day at Windsor Castle.
Looking at the long range forecast, which is not as accurate as the shorter range forecast, Mr Powell said: “It looks like we should be prepared for some pretty changeable weather throughout the second half of May.
“We’re still going to see some dry days, but there’s still going to be some wet days mixed in as well.”
Referring to the day of the eagerly anticipated wedding, Mr Powell added: “We’ve got this idea that there could be some warmer spells, most likely across the south and east of England, so at least that bodes well for
wedding locations and things like that.”
He said temperatures will generally be above normal, but this will depend on whether it is a sunny day or a sunny wetter day.
“So it doesn’t look like it’s going to carry on in a similar kind of vein to high pressure in charge, sunshine, light winds, high temperatures, that we have now.
“Neither does it look like it’s going to be a complete washout, horrible end to the month of May.
“But I think we can expect things to be not as warm as they are now, but also not as dry as they are now,” he said.
Mr Powell added: “Fingers crossed it all kind of ties in with one of the drier days.”
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