Britons to enjoy highs of 73F today before two days of showers arrive to ruin Bank Holiday weekend

Bank Holiday revellers are set to enjoy highs of 73F (23C) today before being hit with two days of wide-spread showers, according to the Met Office. 

But Britons could be forced to experience the balmy weather while stuck in traffic as motoring experts predict an estimated eight million more car journeys this Bank Holiday compared to last year.

The RAC is warning that 22 million car journeys are expected with people set to make the most of a pleasant bank holiday weekend. 

People sunbathe on the beach at Brighton in East Sussex as temperatures remain high for much of the country

People enjoy the beach during the changeable weather on the pebbled beach in Brighton today

People enjoy the beach during the changeable weather on the pebbled beach in Brighton today 

Heavy traffic on the M40 near Solihull in the west Midlands this morning as people hit the road for the bank holiday weekend and half term break

Heavy traffic on the M40 near Solihull in the west Midlands this morning as people hit the road for the bank holiday weekend and half term break

In terms of weather there will be a north south divide for much of the Bank Holiday weekend, with northern Scotland in particular bearing the brunt of the bad weather with rain and potential thunder storms on Monday. 

Sunny spells will mean the south of England and Wales see highs of 70F (21C) tomorrow before showers begin to wash over the country.  

Getaways will peak on Saturday with an estimated 6.6million trips planned, up from 3.8million last year, followed by bank holiday Monday with 5.6million, up from 2.9million, and tomorrow with 5.3million, up from 4.5million.

Manchester-based RAC employee Ben Aldous said: ‘Our research suggests a lot of drivers are planning on taking to the road over this weekend, with routes leading to the coasts, national parks and highlands like the Lake District likely to see significant volumes of traffic – and some extensive jams.’

Northern Ireland, southern Scotland and north England and Wales are most likely to see the best of the weather tomorrow while everywhere else starts experiencing drizzle.

Rain will then start to gradually affect Northern Ireland and Scotland and continue throughout the evening. 

Britons could be forced to experience the balmy weather while stuck in traffic as motoring experts predict an estimated eight million more car journeys this Bank Holiday compared to last year. Pictured is the M40 near Solihull today

 Britons could be forced to experience the balmy weather while stuck in traffic as motoring experts predict an estimated eight million more car journeys this Bank Holiday compared to last year. Pictured is the M40 near Solihull today

A man sunbathes on the pebbled beach at Brighton today amid the warm weather conditions in southern England

A man sunbathes on the pebbled beach at Brighton today amid the warm weather conditions in southern England

A lady is seen relaxing on the beach in her bikini during today's highs of 73C today in Brighton

A lady is seen relaxing on the beach in her bikini during today’s highs of 73C today in Brighton 

Two people go for a walk along the promenade at Brighton as the country experiences above-average temperatures

Two people go for a walk along the promenade at Brighton as the country experiences above-average temperatures

While temperatures will remain above average across the UK, no one will be safe from showers as persistent rain forces its way across the country. Pictured is Saturday weather

Scotland are expected to bear the brunt of the bad weather and will potentially see thunderstorms on Monday

While temperatures will remain above average across the UK on Saturday (left), no one will be safe from showers as persistent rain forces its way across the country on Sunday (right). Scotland are expected to bear the brunt of the bad weather and will potentially see thunderstorms on Monday

It will be quite hard for anyone to avoid the showers across the UK this weekend with some areas of the north set to see heavy downpours and thunderstorms. 

While the south will initially stay dry, there is potential for rain on Monday as the showers slowly spread southerly throughout the country. 

A Met Office meteorologist said: ‘This upcoming bank holiday weekend will start off fine and warm with sunny spells in the south, but for northern parts of the UK it’ll be cooler, cloudier and breezy with some rain at times.

‘At the moment Saturday looks to be one of the better days of the weekend with the promise of sunshine for most, whereas Sunday will be cloudier with outbreaks of rain moving in from the west.

‘By Monday this rain and cloud should clear with a return to sunny spells and the odd shower in places, feeling cooler across the country in the fresh westerly breeze.’ 

Increasingly persistent rain will then push east across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England overnight, while persistent rain will continue across Scotland for much of Sunday, although most of England will stay dry.

Much of the next few days will be determined by the impact on Britain of stormy weather across North America, which has included tornadoes in the mid-west affecting the upper atmosphere.

One month ago Britain was bathed in a record heatwave at Easter, with Easter Monday proving to be the hottest on record with 77F (25C) recorded at Heathrow and Northolt in West London and Wisley in Surrey.

The highest temperature for the late May bank holiday was 91F (32.8C) in Horsham, West Sussex, on May 29, 1944. Meterological summer begins on June 1, and the UK daytime average for the time of year is around 61F (16C).

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