COLD SNAP
BRITS are looking forward to another bank holiday weekend following the Easter break.
Here's what we know about the weather as the three-day break is underway.
1
What is the weather forecast for May bank holiday?
Those who were hoping for another hot bank holiday weekend will be disappointed as it is set to be the coldest May Day Bank Holiday for almost 40 years.
Cold temperatures are set to bring a "shock to the system" as Arctic air moves across the country this week.
Temperatures could plummet as low as -3C or -4C in Northern Ireland, Wales, south-west England and parts of Scotland, bringing widespread frost, the Met Office said.
Snow is forecast to hit parts of Britain as icy air from the North Pole chills the country over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
Forecasters warned there would be plenty of heavy showers today with a risk of hail and thunder across northern, eastern and central areas.
Temperatures in the South will reach 13C or 14C, but will only hit 8C or 9C in the North, with some flurries of snow in Scotland.
Freezing temperatures will again bring widespread frost as bank holiday Monday arrives.
Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said there was a chance overnight temperatures could be the lowest ever for the early May bank holiday Monday.
The lowest recorded temperatures for the Monday are minus 3.5C in Wales, minus 4.3C in Northern Ireland and minus 5.9C in the rest of the UK.
"Overnight we could see, particularly in Northern Ireland and Wales, record lows going into this bank holiday," he said.
"They might overtake the coldest ever start to a May Day bank holiday."
But it's not all doom and gloom this bank holiday as many parts of the UK are expected to see fine and dry weather for most of the Bank Holiday weekend.
Simon added: "We’ve got high pressure to the west, low pressure to the east, which has left us with straight northerly air coming straight down from the Arctic.
“And it’s not just affecting us – it’s pushing south across Europe as well, which is apparently worrying the fruit and grape growers across France and Italy in particular because it could cause a problem for the wine crop.”
When are the bank holidays in 2019?
Here is the full list of 2019 bank holidays - those in bold text apply to the UK.
Dates in Scotland and Northern Ireland vary.
- Monday, May 6 (May Day Bank Holiday)
- Monday, May 27 (Spring Bank Holiday)
- Monday, August 26 (Summer Bank Holiday)
- Wednesday, December 25 (Christmas Day)
- Thursday, December 26 (Boxing Day)
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