Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

May bank holiday weather forecast: Temperatures to drop as low as -2C as frosts and wintry showers predicted

Heavy showers with hail, frosts and breezy conditions make marked contrast with sun-soaked Easter two weeks ago

Alessio Perrone
Friday 03 May 2019 12:23 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.

The UK will be hit with cold weather and wintry showers across the May bank holiday weekend, just weeks after record high temperatures at Easter.

Temperatures will be much colder than the last bank holiday, Met Office forecaster Richard Miles told The Independent, as cold weather from the north will bring heavy showers with hail, frosts and breezy conditions to many places in the UK.

“Daytime temperatures will be in the very low double figures, between 11 and 13 degrees, although it will feel colder in areas with a breeze,” he said.

“Overnight, there will be between two and four degrees and frosts in many places of the UK for the next four to five days.”

Temperatures could get as low as -2C in sheltered, hilly areas with a clear sky.

The lowest temperature ever recorded on the early May bank holiday was -6.4C in Grantown-on-Spey in Scotland in 1981, and in Kinbrace in Scotland in 1988.

Saturday will be the wettest day of the Bank Holiday weekend, with chilly showers and possible hail, especially on the east coast.

“Some of the showers will be heavy, and some will bring hail,” Mr Miles said.

But most of the west, including Wales, the south west and Northern Ireland, should manage to stay dry the majority of the weekend.

Temperatures will be slightly warmer on Sunday, with dry spells after a frosty evening.

Easter Monday was the warmest on record for all four UK nations, with temperatures higher than 20C, but this bank holiday could see them fall as low as -2C in northern Scotland on Saturday evening, with heavy showers and hail across the east coast of England.

It will also be much colder than the same time last year, when temperatures hit 28.7C at Northolt, west London, making it the hottest early May bank holiday Monday and weekend since records began.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

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