Another beautiful day? You can bank on it
DO NOT go for a Bank Holiday walk in the woods today, hay fever sufferers have been warned, amid a “perfect storm” for allergies.
Today is expected to be the warmest early May Bank Holiday on record, with highs of 82.4F (28C), as well as high pollen counts and breezy conditions that are likely to cause problems for hay fever sufferers.
It is “exceptionally likely” that today will be the hottest early May Bank Holiday on record, topping the 74.4F (23.6C) of 1999, the Met Office says.
However, thunderstorms are expected in some parts of the UK tomorrow and temperatures on Thursday and Friday are expected to be below 62F (17C).
Dr Jean Emberlin, scientific director of Allergy UK, said avoiding areas with lots of trees could help reduce hay fever symptoms and advised Bank Holiday walks on the beach rather than woods.
Passengers using Southern Rail services to travel to the coast yesterday complained of “shambolic” mismanagement and dangerous “stampedes” after replacement bus services were overwhelmed by Bank Holiday crowds.
Passengers said there were far too few workers to control the crowds queuing for the replacement busses. Some reported people collapsing after waiting in the sun for up to four hours.
A Southern Rail spokesman said: “Engineering works are planned six months in advance and customers were advised to allow plenty of time to travel. At this point the sunny weather and high volume of passengers was not anticipated.”