It’s Bank Holiday... get your brolly out

HEAVY rain today will wash away hopes of a bright Bank Holiday weekend with travel chaos set to further dampen spirits.

Some regions will be hit with 40mph gusts of wind while parts of South West England, including Dartmoor, will see up to 60mm of rain today. On average, it receives only 90mm of rainfall throughout the whole of August.

The dismal conditions will be worsened by miles of roadworks on motorways and scores of train cancellations due to the closure of London Euston station for engineering works.

Temperatures will reach a high of 18C in London today. Bank Holiday trippers will be greeted with temperatures of 17C in Brighton and 16C in Blackpool.

Met Office meteorologist Sarah Kent said: ‘We’ve got outbreaks of rain quite widely and that rain will be heavy. We’re looking at thickening cloud bringing heavy rain into western areas and then that spreads across all parts.

‘The strongest winds are tied in with the heaviest rain. For a time we will see the wind gusting at 40mph. The most frequent gusts will be along Irish Sea coasts.’

Temperatures are expected to rise tomorrow. Ms Kent said: ‘Some parts will see bright spells on Monday although it’s going to be a rather cloudy day. There are going to be a few showers around.’

There were 90-minute delays yesterday on the M6 as it was closed while emergency services dealt with a man standing on the wrong side of bridge railings above junction 10. West Midlands Police said the man was detained under the Mental Health Act.

Today, there are roadworks on 11 miles of the M23, a 20-mile M6 section (junctions 16-19) and a 14-mile M6 stretch (junctions 2-4).