UK weather forecast: No heatwave predicted for May bank holiday weekend, say forecasters

Temperatures will drop during second half of the week, potentially bringing frost and snow showers

A “Spanish Plume” is not likely to bring scorching temperatures to the UK over the May bank holiday, forecasters have said.

Instead, Britain is in fact expected to experience cooler temperatures in the coming days, and the Met Office has confirmed reports of a three-month heatwave have been misinterpreted.

Uncertainty over the forecast had sparked hopes of warmer conditions, however forecasters are now predicting northerly winds will arrive on Friday, bringing colder weather and lower than average temperatures to the start of May.

A Met Office spokesman said: “Much of the UK will see a good deal of settled, fine and dry weather developing over this weekend and it’ll begin to feel warm in the light winds and sunshine.

“The nights will feel colder with frosts in many rural areas and the possibility of some snow showers in the far north by Friday.”

According to recent media reports, the country was set to bask in a three-month summer heatwave until July.

However the Met Office said the articles appeared to reference its three-month outlook which “does show an increased chance of the UK seeing higher than average temperatures for the May, June, July period” but that it “does not translate to a ‘three-month heatwave’”.

Met Office press officer Richard Miles said temperatures could get down to -2C in the north of England and Scotland over the weekend and -1C in central Wales.

He added that temperatures will generally fall to between 1C to 3C overnight.

“It will be more unsettled towards the end of the week with more showers and the odd thunderstorm possible,” he told The Independent.

“It will be a cold start but average temperatures in general.

“Friday into Saturday it will be dry and sunny in many places with some showers but it will feel cold, particularly in the east of the country.

“There could be some widespread frost in the morning on Sunday and there could be some dry and sunny weather but it won’t be warm.

“That Sunday forecast is likely to stick around for Monday.”

Mr Miles added that it “won’t be like the last bank holiday”, which saw record-breaking temperatures for the time of year.

Easter Saturday saw the hottest day of the year with 25.5C recorded in Gosport, Hampshire.

This year also saw the hottest Easter Monday on record in all four nations of the UK.