Three days of holiday fun in the sun

A SURGE of warm air from Europe will push temperatures back above 80F (27C) this Bank Holiday weekend.

The return of summer is good news for families making the most of the last full week of the school holidays.

The general outlook is for at least three days of sunshine and blue skies with just the North-west facing more wind and rain. And the long-awaited spell of good weather could extend into much of next week.

Warm and muggy conditions will make it feel close to 86F in the far South – although there is a risk of thunder on Tuesday.

Jim Dale, forecaster for British Weather Services, said: “We are finally about to see a change in the weather and apart from the North-west, this weekend is looking pretty decent.

“We expect to see warmer conditions coming in from France and on Monday temperatures in the South could reach 82F.

“In the sunshine it will feel quite hot with ‘feels-like’ temperatures of 86F.

“Things go a bit pear-shaped in the North later on Monday, but for most of the UK it is going to be pretty decent apart from the odd shower.

“A cold front will move down the country later on Monday but it will weaken and fizzle out by the time it hits the South.”

The Met Office said much of the UK can look forward to dry, bright weather over the next three days. Temperatures in the South will reach 77F while the North varies from 63F to 70F.

The cheery outlook comes after heavy rain hit northern England earlier in the week and parts of Scotland yesterday.

Positive

Met Office forecaster Oli Claydon said: “It is certainly a more positive picture over the next few days as showers become less widespread.

“On Saturday we expect a dry, fine day across most of the country with a bit of drizzle lingering across the far North-west.

“It will start to feel pretty warm, especially in the South, with a similar picture for Sunday. On Monday we expect a ridge of high pressure bringing tropical air up from France.

“Again it will feel warm, especially in the South-east, where there is a risk of some thundery outbreaks after the weekend.

“Things will turn wetter in the North-west with the risk of gales in exposed parts on Monday.”

Exacta Weather forecaster James Madden said the weekend’s fine weather was a taste of things to come.

“We expect high pressure to take control over the next few days,” he said.

“This will pave the way for more hot weather as we head into September and the start of the meteorological autumn.”