Met Office issues weather forecast for May bank holiday weekend

Yahoo

19-05-2025

The dry spell that has dominated much of the UK this spring is set to end this weekend, with rain forecast across the country.
It has been unusually dry across much of the country in recent months, sparking fears of a drought this summer.
The north of England has been particularly dry, with water companies United Utilities and Yorkshire Water both initiating the early stages of their water conservation plans amid low reservoir levels.
As of Friday, 80.6mm of rain had been recorded for the UK this spring, nearly 20mm less than the record low for the full season of 100.7mm set in 1852.
On Friday, the Met Office said that the UK had already recorded more sunshine hours so far this spring than it did for the whole of summer last year.
It's been a sunny one…☀️The UK has already recorded more sunshine hours so far this spring, than it did for the whole of meteorological summer last year, according to provisional Met Office statistics.Data up until 15 May shows the UK has had 529.0 hours of sunshine so far… pic.twitter.com/tiTpzxfz10
— Met Office (@metoffice) May 16, 2025
This looks set to change this weekend as the Met Office has forecast the high pressure that has sat over the UK for weeks is set to move south bringing in more unsettled conditions.
Those who had been hoping to extend the sunny spell just a little bit longer to enjoy the weather over the long weekend may have their hopes dashed.
It is set to be warm for the rest of the working week, with most areas experiencing sun or clouds.
There is a chance of some scattered rain and thunderstorms.
But this will begin to change towards to end of the week with the Met Office forecasting cold nights on Thursday and Friday, "with some isolated frost possible".
Once we're into the weekend, deputy chief meteorologist Mark Sidaway said the high pressure moving off will see "a change to more unsettled conditions, with many areas seeing rain or showers, ending the prolonged dry spell."
He added: "The change comes this weekend, with weather systems moving in from the Atlantic, arriving from the west probably later on Friday and through Saturday.
They will bring with them spells of rain, which may be heavy at times, with a risk of strong winds in places.
"These conditions will gradually spread across the UK on Saturday, with Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday likely seeing sunshine and showers," he said.
He said it did not look like the bank holiday will be a "complete washout" but the country would experience a "noticeable shift from the fine and settled weather pattern that has dominated so far this month."
The forecast is not as clear when looking into next week, but it looks set to be the same as the weekend.
Sun and warm weather still possible but more traditional unpredictable spring weather will dominate.
Any sunny conditions could be accompanied showers, cloud and cold temperatures.
The Met Office said: "As we head into the half-term week for many, conditions are likely to remain unsettled, with rain, wind and around average temperatures in the forecast.
"We'll have much more detail on this as we head through the week."
Although the dry spell is set to end, a serious amount of rain would need to fall in the next few weeks to avoid any water shortages this summer.
The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) told The Guardian last week: "The data shows that at present 2025 rainfall is similar to levels last seen in drought events of the last 20 years.
"It suggests that sustained rainfall, such as that last seen in 2012, would be required to remove the threat of drought this year."
Water companies have also begun sounding the alarm on reservoir levels.
As of last week, Yorkshire Water's reservoir levels are at 73.1% of capacity compared to an average for this time of year of nearly 90%.
Water UK, the industry body, told Yahoo News UK: 'Following the driest start to spring in nearly 70 years, water companies have been taking two actions: first, they are breaking new records for repairing leaks; and second, they are moving water across their regions to relieve the driest areas.