AA warn M4 in South Wales expected to be congestion hotspot
The AA has issued an amber traffic warning, predicting millions of journeys each day.
The roads are expected to be busy despite the mixed weather forecast for the long weekend.
Two major games in Cardiff over the weekend are also expected to add to the congestion.
Bath Rugby is taking on Lyon on Friday night at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff in the final of the 2024/25 EPCR Challenge Cup.
There is expected to be heavy congestion on the M4.
GWR has also advised rail passengers to expect busy trains.
The firm is also warning of disruption on Saturday when Northampton Saints take on Union Bordeaux-Bègles in the Investec Champions Cup Final at the Principality.
Rain is forecast for Bank Holiday Monday with mixed weather for the rest of the weekend.
According to an AA survey, more than 20 million journeys are expected on Friday, May 3, with over 19 million each day from Saturday, May 4, to Monday, May 6.
Half of these trips are set to be under 50 miles, indicating traffic will be concentrated around local destinations and attractions such as retail parks and town centres.
Shaun Jones from the AA said: "Remember, the journey is just as important as the destination.
"Let's make sure we all get there safely and enjoy the time with our loved ones."
The AA advises drivers to plan their journeys in advance, stay updated with congestion and roadworks, and ensure vehicles are roadworthy before setting off.
Mr Jones added: "By following these tips, we can all contribute to a safer and more pleasant travel experience during the bank holiday weekend."
With the recent sun and warm weather, over seven million people plan to embark on trips to the coast, sporting events, and garden centres on Saturday, May 4, while 3.5 million indicated they intend to take a long weekend break away from home.
However, the Met Office has warned of more unsettled conditions with rain or showers in many areas in the UK, ending the prolonged dry spell.
Mark Sidaway, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "Whilst the bank holiday won't be a complete washout, with some sunshine expected, this weekend represents a notable shift from the fine and settled weather pattern that has dominated so far this month."
The AA anticipates that routes to popular coastal destinations will be busier than usual, if the previous good weather continues.
These include roads heading towards the east coast such as Skegness as well as the south west and Cornwall, including the A303, M5 and A38, and those leading to Wales such as the M4.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Western Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
Northern Lights Wales: Once in a decade display next month
Increasing numbers of displays have been spotted, with more of the country able to take in the spectacular sights. Within the last year the Aurora Borealis has stunned the nation with dazzling light displays being visible as far south as Dorset, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Berkshire. Northern Lights sightings have increased in recent years and the explanation is well known in the science community, the Met Office has said. The aurora is concentrated at the Earth's north and south poles (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire) Krista Hammond, a Manager at the Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre (MOSWOC), said: 'Activity on the sun, and in particular the number of visible sunspots, varies over roughly an 11-year period, known as the solar cycle.' The last solar minimum, which is when the Sun had the lowest frequency of visible sunspots in the solar cycle, occurred in December 2019. This means that the sun's activity is currently increasing, with the next solar maximum expected around July this year. As a result, more of the Sun's electrically charged particles are travelling towards the Earth and getting caught in its magnetic field, thus producing more of the aurora effect. Krista added: 'Over the coming years, as we continue towards the solar maximum, we can expect to see an increase in the frequency of space weather events, with more chances to see the Aurora Borealis over the UK.' What causes the Northern Lights? The Royal Museums Greenwich explained: 'Solar storms on our star's surface give out huge clouds of electrically charged particles. These particles can travel millions of miles, and some may eventually collide with the Earth. 'Most of these particles are deflected away, but some become captured in the Earth's magnetic field, accelerating down towards the north and south poles into the atmosphere. This is why aurora activity is concentrated at the magnetic poles.' Royal Observatory astronomer, Tom Kerss added: 'These particles then slam into atoms and molecules in the Earth's atmosphere and essentially heat them up. 'We call this physical process 'excitation', but it's very much like heating a gas and making it glow.' Can I see the Northern Lights in the UK? The Royal Museums Greenwich said: 'The aurora borealis can be seen in the northern hemisphere, while the aurora australis is found in the southern hemisphere. 'While the best places to see the aurora are concentrated around the polar regions, the aurora borealis can sometimes be seen in the UK. 'The further north you are the more likely you are to see the display – but heightened solar activity has meant that the northern lights have been seen as far south as Cornwall and Brighton. 'The conditions do still need to be right however. Dark and clear nights, preferably with little light pollution, offer the best chance of seeing the aurora.'
Metro
4 hours ago
- Metro
'Hawaii of Europe's' breathtaking capital gets new £39 easyJet flights from UK
If you're someone who struggles to pick between a city break and a green getaway with plenty of nature, then we've got just the destination for you. Madeira, an archipelago in Portugal is often hailed as the 'Hawaii of Europe' thanks to the beautiful weather, dramatic scenery and volcanic origins. Its capital city, Funchal, offers the best of both worlds for those who enjoy cosmopolitan city living, but also want to be awed by beautiful beaches, mountains and parks. And the great news is, Brits just got another way to travel to the fascinating spot as easyJet has launched cheap new direct flights from London Luton Airport, with prices starting from just £38.99. The new route from London Luton will operate twice each week throughout the summer, with flights available on Mondays and Fridays. However, in 2026, this will change to Wednesdays and Saturdays. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Got your attention? Keep reading to find out more about the breathtaking city that could be your next holiday spot… As well as the new flights from London Luton Airport, the budget airline also offers flights to Funchal from Bristol, Gatwick and Manchester airports. The flights from London Luton to Funchal take three hours and 55 minutes. According to easyJet, it can by pretty foggy in Funchal first thing in the morning, but this clears up by the afternoon so the sun can shine through. In the summer months, the sun doesn't set until 9pm, so you've got plenty of time each day to make the most of the glorious weather. The Met Office explains that the city experiences year-round warmth, but like any holiday hotspot, the summer months are the best time to go if you're looking for hot temperatures. The weather experts say: 'The summer months are perfect if you are looking for sunshine and temperatures which are hot, but not too hot. July and August are the warmest, sunniest and driest months. 'During the winter, temperatures drop slightly although they are still very warm by UK standards during this time of year. Weather systems occasionally affect the island, mainly outside of the summer months; bringing cloudier skies and some rainfall from time to time.' The average daily maximum temperature in July is 25.5C and in August it's 26.4C. This drops to a daily average maximum temperature of 19C in January and 18.8C in February. You certainly won't struggle to find things to fill your time during a trip to Funchal, from enjoying pretty beaches, to taking cable car rides up the mountains, picnicking in the parks, shopping in the city, perusing food markets and tucking into delicious delicacies. The most popular beaches are Praia Formosa and Calheta. The former is the largest public beach the city offers and is actually a complex made up of four beaches. Located in west Funchal, a 10-minute drive from the city centre, you'll find a mixture of pebbles and dark sand here and it's a good option for those who want to go swimming or surfing. Nearby, you'll also find the Doca do Cavacas Natural Pools and lidos. For those who love the outdoors, there are plenty of hiking trails to follow, with the Levada trails being the most popular. Levadas are irrigation channels, so you'll follow along these as you walk. The 4.3 km long Levada das 25 Fontes takes around three hours and Tripadvisor users claim it's a 'beautiful' walk with lots of waterfalls and stunning viewpoints. Some of these trails will cross through the Laurissilva Forest, an UNESCO heritage site, which is a subtropical rainforest that's about 20 million years old. For those seeking more of a thrill, you can take a cable car ride and there are two options – the botanical garden cable car and the Funchal to Monte ride. At the parish of Monte, those looking to get back down into the city quickly can take a toboggan ride in one of the Monte sledges, made from wicker and wood. The route spans around two kilometres and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Funchal is also home to beautiful gardens, including the aforementioned botanical garden and Monte Palace Tropical Garden home to thousands of exotic plants. More Trending Culture lovers will have plenty to absorb, with an abundance of art and history to explore in the city itself. There are monuments and various museums including the Natural History Museum of Funchal, the Museum of Sacred Art of Funchal, the A Cidade do Açúcar Museum, and the Funchal Electricity Museum. There's even a museum dedicated to Cristiano Ronaldo's football trophies. Gastronomy is taken very seriously in Funchal, with around 1,000 restaurants in the capital, with 11 of these being in the Michelin guide and several having stars. Be sure to check out a food market while you're there. Local specialities include Espetada which are skewers of beef, marinated and grilled over laurel wood. Bolo do Caco, a round flatbread made with sweet potato, often served with garlic butter, is also popular, as well as Lapas (grilled limpets) and Espada, a black scabbardfish, often served with something sweet, order honey cake or Malassadas, a type of sweet donut. Wine is also a big deal in Madeira, with more than 30 varieties – the most popular are Sercial, Verdelho, Bual and Malvasia – as well as Terrantez and Tinta Negra. Sip a glass in the sunshine, while looking out over the sea after a day swimming, hiking or exploring. You've earned it. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Peru should be your next travel destination – and not for Machu Picchu MORE: Europe's 'nowhere place' is a quiet Italian gem with flights from £17 MORE: TUI relaunches UK flights to forgotten year-round sunshine destination after 3 years
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Exact time thunderstorms end as more rain to fall in 9 hours than all of April
Millions of Brits will be blighted by thunderstorms ruining their Saturday until this evening, with as much as 40mm of rain expected to fall in some parts of the country Thunderstorms are expected to bring more rain in nine hours today than the UK saw in the whole of April. Met Office forecasters have issued a yellow thunderstorm weather warning for the South East, East Anglia, the Midlands, the South West and southern Wales - lasting until 6pm today. The Met Office warned that between 10mm to 15mm could fall in less than an hour, while some regions could see as much as between 30mm and 40mm. The yellow weather alert will remain in the affected regions until 6pm tonight, with people being warned about potential delays to train and bus services. Some buildings could also be vulnerable to lightning strikes, the Met Office said. In England, the amount of rainfall could be more in a single day than the entirety of April, which saw 28.3mm in total. The rest of Saturday will be "very showery" with heavy rainfall as well as gusty winds and hail. Met Office Chief Meteorologist Dan Suri said: 'Frequent heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected for much of Saturday, before they fade from the west during the mid-to-late afternoon. "It's possible that 10-15mm of rain could fall in less than an hour, while some places could see 30-40mm of rain over several hours from successive showers and thunderstorms. Frequent lightning, hail, and strong, gusty winds are also possible. "A yellow warning for thunderstorms has been issued and covers parts of central and southern England and Wales. While brisk winds ensure that most places in the warning area will be hit by showers, not all places will see thunderstorms. In this case it's difficult to predict where exactly thunderstorms will hit because they are small and fast changing. "One analogy we use to picture the complexity of this forecasting challenge is comparing it to boiling a pan of water and having to guess exactly where and when the bubbles will appear. We know some will, but only in certain places, and that is why thunderstorms are so hard to predict." Thankfully, conditions should be "quieter" and "drier" for most on Sunday. There will be some showers around in the north and east of the country. But for many, clear and sunny spells are expected. Next week, sunshine and showers are expected in the north with plenty of dry weather in the south. The Met Office said Tuesday would see the possibility of a new low-pressure-system potentially pushing another weather front over the UK. Temperatures look set to rise with high 20Cs possible in the southeast on Thursday. The warm air will also bring further risk of thunderstorms by the end of the week.
