It’s a brolly Bank Holiday... but balmier in June

IF you’re hoping to spend today’s Bank Holiday working in the garden or lazing on the beach, you’d better have an umbrella handy.

Britons will be ‘kept on their toes’ by sudden showers, interspersed with bursts of weak sunshine.

But the weather will become more pleasant at the beginning of June this weekend, the Met Office say.

The downturn in conditions began yesterday after a few sunny days, and is set to worsen today.

Forecaster Craig Snell said temperatures could reach 20C (68F) in the South and midteens in the North – but this will be overshadowed by heavy showers, some accompanied by rumbles of thunder.

He added: ‘For half term the weather’s going to be keeping holidaymakers on their toes. It’ll be a bit changeable.

‘Tuesday will continue to have sunshine and showers, but with the showers more spaced out than on Monday, and temperatures will be a bit cooler. Wednesday offers us a bit of respite in the South and with light winds probably won’t feel as cool, but will still be disappointing for this time of year.

‘Thursday and Friday will continue to see a risk of rain coming in from the Atlantic.

‘That begins to clear late on Friday and warmer air will filter back in from the South. The early signs are it will be warmer and a bit drier.’

Thermometers could hit 22C (71.6F) on Saturday in a band that covers South Wales, the Midlands, London, East Anglia and the south coast, while the North will be back to the high teens.

Mr Snell added: ‘It will be a markedly upward trend after cooler days during the week. The change of month appears to be bringing a change of weather.’

The warning about chopping and changing conditions was issued as a poll found Britons put ‘weather’ at the top of a list of occurrences they would like to be able to take out an insurance policy against.

More than a third – 35 per cent – said they would like cover for ruined day trips and holidays. Less than half of them – 17 per cent – wanted protection against a bad job, found the poll of 2,000 people for Better Buy Insurance.

Splitting up with a partner came third, on 15 per cent, followed by sleeping badly and failing your exams, both on 12 per cent.