Forecasters dampen hopes of scorching bank holiday weekend

Britons hoping for a scorching bank holiday may be disappointed as forecasters predict temperatures will start to drop on Saturday with a chance of rain and thunderstorms throughout the long weekend.

Much of the country has been basking in sunshine and clear skies for the last few days and the heatwave is set to continue on Friday.

MeteoGroup forecaster Sabrina Lee said: “Of the bank holiday weekend, tomorrow is the best day. It just turns cooler over time then with an increased risk of showers.”

She said the last day of the working week could see the mercury hit 28C (82F) in parts of Scotland, Greater London and in Merseyside but that by Saturday, while the temperature is likely to remain warm with a high of 27C (81F), Scotland and western parts of the UK would be experiencing thundery showers.

The wet weather is expected to be widespread in the morning but confined to Northern Ireland and Scotland by the afternoon.

Temperatures are set to dip further to 24/25C (75-77F) on Sunday.

Ms Lee said: “Much of the country is going to be dry (on Sunday) but we do have rain moving into southern and central parts of the country and some of this rain could be heavy and thundery.”

Ms Lee said the temperature would remain “pleasant” throughout the break despite the weather's changeability and Monday was set to be the coolest day with predicted highs of 21C (70F).

She said a Spanish plume was what had caused this week's balmy weather.

“Over the next few days we have got air originating from Iberia and then from about Saturday onwards it starts to break down and the air comes from elsewhere which is why those temperatures are starting to dip,” she said.

“It starts off nice and warm and it starts to break down then with the showers and thunderstorms and the temperature is still pleasant but they're going to be cooler than what we have seen over the last few days.”