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Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Climate
- Scottish Sun
UK weather: Hail, thunderstorms and strong winds to batter Britain with 50mm of rain in just two hours this weekend
WEEKEND WASHOUT UK weather: Hail, thunderstorms and strong winds to batter Britain with 50mm of rain in just two hours this weekend Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRITS are bracing for a stormy weekend washout with hail, thunderstorms and strong winds on the cards. Downpours could see 50mm of rain in just two hours on Saturday as June continues to be dominated by low pressure, meaning unsettled weather. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Londoners are seen battling with the driving rain on Westminster Bridge on Thursday Credit: Story Picture Agency 3 Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern looks at the weekend forecast Credit: X 3 Rain fall leaves difficult driving conditions on the M56 in Manchester Credit: Zenpix Met Office data shows England had 32.8mm of rain last month, almost half the month's usual average. They have forecast heavier and more frequent showers on Saturday, with hail and thunder possible and some unseasonably strong winds in coastal areas. There could also be a risk of surface-water flooding. From June 1 to June 3 there has already been 10.7mm of rain, a fifth of the 50.9mm recorded for the UK during May. Sunday looks to be drier and the better day of the weekend, before further rain in northern England on Monday. Meteorologist Honor Criswick said the wet weather was because of low pressure. She said: 'At the north of the country this brings in a north-westerly wind, so gradually drags in frontal systems out from the west and south-west, and that leads to some pretty changeable and wet weather at times.' Met Office spokeswoman Andrea Bishop said the weather for the rest of the week would be 'changeable'. She said: 'Generally the theme is the continuation of something a bit cooler, a bit breezy at times, and a bit wet at times too. 'We are keeping an eye on a new front which looks like it will move in on Friday night, bringing rain which could be heavy, and possibly thundery at times on Saturday. Scotland blasted by SNOW as summer starts with chilly temperature plunge – but warmer weather is set to return 'Rainfall totals of 20-30mm are likely in places and, at present, this looks like it will affect the southern half of the UK. We are keeping a close eye on this to see how it evolves over the next 24 hours or so.' Next week temperatures will rise to above average for the time of year, with highs of 25C next Wednesday in London and 23C in Manchester. The National Farmers' Union (NFU) said the change in weather would be welcomed by many farmers. Rachel Hallos, NFU vice president, said: 'After such a dry start to the year, this weekend's rainfall will be welcome in many areas. 'However, heavy downpours aren't the ideal way to restore soil moisture, what farmers really need is steady, consistent rainfall to support crops and grazing without causing run-off or damaging soils. 'These changing weather patterns, from long dry periods to intense bursts of rain, highlight the need for long-term planning and investment in water, particularly the water we need to produce the food we enjoy. 'Things like rainwater harvesting and more flexible abstraction rules are important steps in adapting to these new conditions.' Luke Hindle, duty manager for National Highways, urged drivers to plan journeys carefully. He said: 'Rainfall makes the surface of the road slippery, so increase the gap between yourself and the vehicle in front and keep your eyes on the road at all times as visibility can be reduced.'
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- Climate
- The Irish Sun
UK weather: Hail, thunderstorms and strong winds to batter Britain with 50mm of rain in just two hours this weekend
BRITS are bracing for a stormy weekend washout with hail, thunderstorms and strong winds on the cards. Downpours could see 50mm of rain in just two hours on Saturday as June continues to be dominated by low pressure, meaning unsettled weather. Advertisement 3 Londoners are seen battling with the driving rain on Westminster Bridge on Thursday Credit: Story Picture Agency 3 Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern looks at the weekend forecast Credit: X 3 Rain fall leaves difficult driving conditions on the M56 in Manchester Credit: Zenpix Met Office data shows England had 32.8mm of rain last month, almost half the month's usual average. They have forecast heavier and more frequent showers on Saturday, with hail and thunder possible and some unseasonably strong winds in coastal areas. There could also be a risk of surface-water flooding. From June 1 to June 3 there has already been 10.7mm of rain, a fifth of the 50.9mm recorded for the UK during May. Advertisement READ MORE NEWS Sunday looks to be drier and the better day of the weekend, before further rain in northern Meteorologist Honor Criswick said the wet weather was because of low pressure. She said: 'At the north of the country this brings in a north-westerly wind, so gradually drags in frontal systems out from the west and south-west, and that leads to some pretty changeable and wet weather at times.' Met Office spokeswoman Andrea Bishop said the weather for the rest of the week would be 'changeable'. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive She said: 'Generally the theme is the continuation of something a bit cooler, a bit breezy at times, and a bit wet at times too. 'We are keeping an eye on a new front which looks like it will move in on Friday night, bringing rain which could be heavy, and possibly thundery at times on Saturday. Scotland blasted by SNOW as summer starts with chilly temperature plunge – but warmer weather is set to return 'Rainfall totals of 20-30mm are likely in places and, at present, this looks like it will affect the southern half of the UK. We are keeping a close eye on this to see how it evolves over the next 24 hours or so.' Next week temperatures will rise to above average for the time of year, with highs of 25C next Wednesday in London and 23C in Manchester. Advertisement The National Farmers' Union (NFU) said the change in weather would be welcomed by many farmers. Rachel Hallos, NFU vice president, said: 'After such a dry start to the year, this weekend's rainfall will be welcome in many areas. 'However, heavy downpours aren't the ideal way to restore soil moisture, what farmers really need is steady, consistent rainfall to support crops and grazing without causing run-off or damaging soils. 'These changing weather patterns, from long dry periods to intense bursts of rain, highlight the need for long-term planning and investment in water, particularly the water we need to produce the food we enjoy. Advertisement 'Things like rainwater harvesting and more flexible abstraction rules are important steps in adapting to these new conditions.' Luke Hindle, duty manager for National Highways, urged drivers to plan journeys carefully. He said: 'Rainfall makes the surface of the road slippery, so increase the gap between yourself and the vehicle in front and keep your eyes on the road at all times as visibility can be reduced.' 5-day weather forecast Today: Early rain in the south and east clearing eastwards on Friday, followed by showers, these perhaps merging to longer spells of rain at times. Sunshine and showers in the north. Feeling cool in the fresh breeze. Tonight: More persistent rain and showers arriving in the west, spreading eastwards into Saturday morning. Clear spells and drier overnight further north. Becoming windy in the southwest by dawn. Saturday: Showers becoming widespread across England and Wales, often heavy and accompanied by hail and thunder. Showers more scattered in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and generally easing from the west later. Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday: A drier day on Sunday, before further rain and showers, mainly in the north, on Monday and Tuesday. Often breezy and feeling rather cool.
The Sun
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Worst time to travel this bank holiday weekend revealed as 17MILLION to hit roads
THE worst time to travel over the Easter bank holiday has been revealed - as a whopping 17 million drivers are expected to hit the roads. As Brits gear up to travel around the UK for the long weekend, it's important to know the best routes. 1 Motoring services company RAC has revealed that the May Day weekend is still set to produce more traffic than 2024 – with over 17 million getaway trips by car planned. The experts estimate the busiest day will be Friday, with as many as three million journeys expected. Saturday could see 2.9million, and 2.8million are predicted on the Monday. Meanwhile the least amount of travel is due on Sunday with just 2.4million trips. RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: 'Although the Easter break was just two weeks ago, our figures suggest this weekend will still be hectic on the roads as millions take advantage of another bank holiday. 'This week's very warm weather may not last right into the weekend, but with lots of daylight hours, there's still plenty of opportunity to get out and about. 'For drivers that have a choice, it's best to avoid Friday evening as that's when leisure traffic will clash with commuter journeys. 'It takes just minutes to check that a vehicle's oil, coolant and screenwash are all at the right levels before your trip, and it's equally important to ensure all tyres are damage-free, have plenty of tread and are inflated properly. 'Anyone towing a caravan or trailer should check over these tyres as well.' 'If you face a flat battery or a problem with your brakes on your staycation, there's no need to waste precious minutes of your holiday looking for a local garage. M40 CLOSED after serious crash with drivers warned to take alternative routes "An RAC Mobile Mechanic can be booked to repair your vehicle on the driveway of your accommodation, completing any fixes you might need and any diagnostic checks.' HOT TO TROT It comes after the bank holiday weekend kicked off with the warmest start to May on record. The recent warm spell is the hottest start to the month since records began - and temperatures could go even higher. A temperature of 28C was recorded at Kew Gardens, in South-West London yesterday afternoon. The previous record for May Day was 27.4C recorded at Lossiemouth, Moray, on May 1, 1990. Last summer wasn't even close to being this hot, with the average temperature only being 14C. It was the coolest summer since 2015, which saw average temps of 13C. The Met Office said in a post on X: "With the temperature at Kew Gardens reaching 28C and still climbing, it is now officially the warmest start to May on record for the UK. "The previous May 1st record high temperature was 27.4C at Lossiemouth in Scotland in 1990." Met Office Meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: 'High pressure sat over the UK for the first two weeks of April as well as the last week, with low pressure bringing some unsettled weather in the middle. This has meant temperatures have been above average, and rainfall, for most, has been below.
The Irish Sun
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Worst time to travel this bank holiday weekend revealed as 17MILLION to hit roads
THE worst time to travel over the Easter bank holiday has been revealed - as a whopping 17 million drivers are expected to hit the roads. As Brits gear up to travel around the UK for the long weekend, it's important to know the best routes. 1 The worst time to travel over the Easter bank holiday has been revealed by RAC Credit: Alamy Motoring services company RAC has revealed that the May Day weekend is still set to produce more traffic than 2024 – with over 17 million getaway trips by car planned. The experts estimate the busiest day will be Friday, with as many as three million journeys expected. Saturday could see 2.9million, and 2.8million are predicted on the Monday. Meanwhile the least amount of travel is due on Sunday with just 2.4million trips. read more in motors RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: 'Although the Easter break was just two weeks ago, our figures suggest this weekend will still be hectic on the roads as millions take advantage of another bank holiday. 'This week's very warm weather may not last right into the weekend, but with lots of daylight hours, there's still plenty of opportunity to get out and about. 'For drivers that have a choice, it's best to avoid Friday evening as that's when leisure traffic will clash with commuter journeys. 'It takes just minutes to check that a vehicle's oil, coolant and screenwash are all at the right levels before your trip, and it's equally important to ensure all tyres are damage-free, have plenty of tread and are inflated properly. Most read in Motors 'Anyone towing a caravan or trailer should check over these tyres as well.' 'If you face a flat battery or a problem with your brakes on your staycation, there's no need to waste precious minutes of your holiday looking for a local garage. M40 CLOSED after serious crash with drivers warned to take alternative routes "An RAC Mobile Mechanic can be booked to repair your vehicle on the driveway of your accommodation, completing any fixes you might need and any diagnostic checks.' HOT TO TROT It comes after the bank holiday weekend kicked off with the warmest start to May on record. The recent A temperature of 28C was recorded at Kew Gardens, in South-West London yesterday afternoon. The previous record for May Day was 27.4C recorded at Lossiemouth, Moray, on May 1, 1990. Last summer wasn't even close to being this hot, with the average temperature only being 14C. It was the The Met Office said in a post on X: "With the temperature at Kew Gardens reaching 28C and still climbing, it is now officially the warmest start to May on record for the UK. "The previous May 1st record high temperature was 27.4C at Lossiemouth in Scotland in 1990." Met Office Meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: 'High pressure sat over the UK for the first two weeks of April as well as the last week, with low pressure bringing some unsettled weather in the middle. This has meant temperatures have been above average, and rainfall, for most, has been below.
Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Straits Times
UK records hottest ever May Day
Like other European countries, the UK has been experiencing a heatwave since the beginning of the week. PHOTO: EPA-EFE LONDON - The UK recorded its hottest ever May Day on May 1, having just experienced its sunniest April since records began, according to the Met Office. The unprecedented temperature of 29.3 deg C was recorded at the famous botanical park Kew Gardens in south-west London. The previous record of 27.4 deg C was set in 1990 in the coastal town of Lossiemouth in northern Scotland. This May 1 is also the hottest day of the year so far in the country. Like other European countries, the UK has been experiencing a heatwave since the beginning of the week. According to early estimates from the Met Office, April was the sunniest since meteorological records began in 1910. It was also the third warmest, with an average temperature of 9.6 deg C – 1.7 deg C above the long-term average. 'The sun is as strong as it usually is in August,' said Met meteorologist Aidan McGivern. The high temperatures and dry conditions have led to numerous fires across the country. On May 1, a fire broke out in West Yorkshire in northern England, adding to the more than 400 fires recorded in the country so far in 2025, according to the National Fire Chiefs Council. That number is significantly higher than in previous years. Over a hundred blazes have scorched more than 30ha of forests, according to data from the European Forest Fire Information System. Scientists warn that climate change driven by humanity's fossil fuel emissions is making periods of intense heat more likely, longer-lasting and more intense. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
