School’s out, the heatwave’s here...now for traffic chaos

THE summer holiday getaway begins in earnest today with the prospect of the hottest days of the year next week.

Sunshine and dry weather will reign all weekend, and temperatures could hit 2 C (84F) on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The school term ended yesterday in many areas and two million are due to fly abroad this weekend. But the sudden change in the weather could lead families to book a last-minute ‘staycation’, adding to the delays on the roads.

The AA warned of major congestion, especially on routes to the South West, cross-channel ports and airports.

Jams are expected to be worst on the A303 through Hampshire, Wiltshire and Somerset and the M6 in Staffordshire, Cheshire and Lancashire.

After one of the dullest, wettest starts to the summer in memory, temperatures are expected to reach 20C (68F) today, 23C (73F) tomorrow, 25C (77F) on Monday. They could reach 2 C (84F) on Tuesday and Wednesday in the South and East, exceeding this year’s 28.6C (83.5F) record set in Kent during a hot weekend at the end of May. The Met Office said the downpours of the past six weeks were on the way out as the jet stream, which brought the rain clouds, moved back into a more northerly position. This will allow more traditional summer weather to arrive in most places.

The washout spring and summer may have forced many retailers to start their sales early, but at least demand for wet weather gear has been high.

Online retailer Amazon said: ‘There has been a 3 per cent increase in the sales of raincoats this year compared to last year. Sales of umbrellas are almost five times higher and purchases of wellington boots have increased by over 150 per cent year on year and the bestselling brand is Hunter.’