Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Bank holiday weather: Monday to bring freezing weather as temperatures plummet

Icy air flows south from Arctic, bringing patches of frost and some sleet

Samuel Osborne
Monday 06 May 2019 04:22 EDT
Comments
UK weather: The latest Met Office forecast

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Freezing temperatures have beckoned in one of the chilliest starts to an early May bank holiday on record.

Temperatures dropped as low as -4.3C as icy air flowed southwards from the Arctic.

Parts of Scotland were left with patches of frost and some sleet over high ground.

The minimum was recorded at Katesbridge in Co Down, while a low of -2.4C was seen at Shap in Cumbria, -1.7C in Sennybridge, Brecknockshire, and -1C at Loch Glascarnoch in the Highlands.

The lowest recorded temperature for the early May bank holiday Monday was -5.9C on 7 May, 2012, at Kinbrace in Sutherland.

Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said: “We’re stuck between high pressure to the west of us and low pressure to the east, which is giving us northerly winds – it’s drawing air straight down from the Arctic.”

Temperatures are expected to peak at 14C or 15C in the south on Monday afternoon.

However, northern parts will struggle to see double digits as a band of rain pushes towards the south and east.

“It’s going to be fairly chilly during the day, below average for the time of year, but it’s not going to be too bad and the wind’s going to be light,” Mr Partridge said.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

“It will be generally dry, although there is a band of showery rain that’s going to slowly move its way from Scotland southwards through parts of Northern Ireland and northern England then eventually into parts of East Anglia.

“That will make it feel a bit cooler through there, but either side of it will generally be dry and bright with sunny spells.

“It will stay mostly dry in the south, where it will be warmest, so Wales and much of southern England will be fine.”

Additional reporting by PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in