Easter weekend set for hottest day of the year
THE hottest day of the year so far could arrive this Easter bank holiday weekend, with temperatures rising to more than 10°C above average.
While parts of Wales could see some rain, it will be warm with highs of 19°C (66°F) to 20°C (68°F), before temperatures drop from Easter Monday. Forecasters are predicting the mercury could peak at 22°C (71.6°F) in some parts of the UK today, setting a new record for the hottest day of the year so far.
The Met Office forecast for Wales says: “A grey start to Good Friday, with patchy light rain or drizzle, mainly in the west. Skies brightening towards lunchtime, with warm spells of sunshine developing, especially in the east. Maximum temperature 19°C. Largely dry on Saturday and Easter Day, with the best of the sunshine in the east.”
Welsh forecaster Derek Brockway’s Easter forecast is: “A lot of dry weather. Some warm sunny spells. Mist and fog patches and not completely dry. A little rain or showers mainly on Sunday PM. Cooler and fresher on Monday.”
It will then be cooler on Easter Monday, with overnight rain clearing to sunshine and a few showers.
Met Office forecaster Alex Deakin says: “We are going to see changes, particularly going into next week, but it looks like they will be gradual changes through next week.”
He added: “There will certainly be a different feel to the weather from the introduction of fresh air conditions from the Atlantic finally pushing away that area of high pressure. So cooler, fresher weather for Easter Monday, probably lasting into Tuesday and probably beyond.
“Next week is looking a fair bit cooler and generally turning a bit more unsettled with low pressure control but it is going to be a gradual process.”
Those heading to parts of Spain for the Easter break face heavy rain, storm-force winds and high waves. Several weather warnings have been issued by the Spanish national forecaster AEMET for areas including holiday hotspots like Alicante, Mallorca, Benidorm and Ibiza. Those holidaying in the affected regions are advised to take extra care and follow the advice of local authorities.
Travellers using airports, train stations and roads were left waiting for hours in long queues as the Easter getaway got under way yesterday.
There were long tailbacks on the A55 in Conwy after two vehicles crashed shortly before 10.45am.
One lane was blocked following the collision between Junction 23A and Junction 23, with vehicles backed up to Junction 25 at Bodelwyddan Castle. Back roads around Abergele were also snarled up following the crash, as motorists tried to seek alternative routes.
Passengers at Manchester and Birmingham airports shared pictures on social media of lines stretching far away from check-in desks, with one saying the situation was “utterly shambolic”.
Images on social media showed a large number of people waiting for Tui check-in desks at Manchester Airport, with other customers telling of a 90-minute wait for luggage.
A firm spokesperson said: “We can confirm that unfortunately due to staff shortages at Manchester Airport today, some customers are experiencing longer-than-usual queue times at check-in. Please be assured that our teams are working as quickly as they can.”
Adam Francis, said on Twitter: “Utterly shambolic scenes in terminal 2 at @manairport when a cleaner is the only person to provide any information on why we have no bags after 90 minutes. Even then she doesn’t know when we will get them.”
Manchester Airport said passengers are advised to arrive three hours before their flight and double check their hand luggage.
Meanwhile, those at Birmingham Airport told of waiting in hour-long queues for security, despite paying £4 per person for fast-track services.
Aviation data firm Cirium said 9,212 flights with 1.6 million seats are scheduled to depart from UK airports between Good Friday and Easter Monday.
The number of flights is 78% of the total for Easter 2019, before the coronavirus crisis affected travel.
The busiest day will be today when 2,430 flights are due to depart.
However, yesterday dozens of British Airways and EasyJet flights to and from Heathrow and Gatwick were cancelled.
Rail passengers have also been warned of delays as Network Rail carries out 530 engineering projects costing a total of £83m.This includes the closure of the West Coast Main Line between London Euston and Milton Keynes for four days from today due to upgrades of the existing line and HS2 work.Parts of the railway between Birmingham International station and Coventry will also be closed, as will lines around Crewe station.
RAC traffic spokesman Rod Dennis said: “Although we’re expecting the biggest number of Easter getaway trips by car tomorrow (Friday) – around 4.6m – it’s clear some drivers are keen to make an early escape ahead of the bank holiday.
“From a breakdown perspective, we’re seeing high demand for our service across northern England, especially around the Lake District, as well as the coastal areas of west Wales.”
Some 27.6 million car journeys are expected to take place over the bank holiday weekend, said the AA.
Dover-Calais sailings by P&O Ferries were also suspended, with large queues of lorries forming on roads approaching the Port of Dover.
Those at London St Pancras said there were long queues for services to Europe yesterday morning. One passenger heading for France said he had waited for more than an hour due to staff shortages.