Total washout expected for Easter bank holiday weekend as Met Office forecasts rain and wind

Wet and windy weather is expected to affect much of the country this Easter bank holiday weekend; Conditions are predicted to become increasingly unstable from Friday and remain bleak throughout the long weekend.

Bands of heavy rain will move southwards from Friday morning and continue throughout the weekend, with temperatures expected to drop below 1 degree Celsius in Scotland on Saturday morning. Warmer weather is expected next week, with highs of 15C expected across much of the country.

Steven Keates, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “The weather is expected to become more unstable as we move towards Good Friday and Easter Saturday, with rain, some of which may be heavy, at times. This will be followed by sunny skies and showers, with the driest conditions likely to be towards the south-east of the UK.”

“It is also likely to be windy at times in all areas, particularly open areas in the north-west. While there is some uncertainty in the details at this point, there is a strong signal that wet and windy conditions will continue over the Easter weekend.”

Scotland and Northern Ireland will experience temperatures ranging from 1 to 9 degrees throughout Friday and Saturday. Winter conditions will continue on Easter Sunday, but there will be slight improvement in some areas on Monday. Wales and England will experience slightly warmer weather over the weekend, with high temperatures of 14C predicted for parts of the south and south-east of England on Saturday.

Temperatures are expected to rise across the country by Tuesday, with the highest temperature expected to be 13 to 15 degrees in Wales and most of England, and 16 degrees in London.

“With the start of April the balance shifts towards slightly drier conditions and as the clocks go forward and days get longer, there will be more opportunities to enjoy the developing sunshine,” the Met Office said. “However, a sustained temperature appears less certain, and variable conditions remain an important feature of the outlook.”

Met Office’s five-day weather forecast

Today

Showers in the north will continue this morning, and initially the snowfall on the hills will gradually ease during the day. It is largely dry with sunny skies in the south, but a few showers are possible. The wind is getting lighter.

Tonight

At first, clear spells with the development of frost in the east. Elsewhere the sky is clouded with rain and drizzle.

Tuesday

Initially mostly cloudy, showers and drizzle. The afternoons are becoming drier for many people, with warm, bright or sunny weather. Windy in the north, stormy on the coasts.

Outlook from Wednesday to Friday

This may change with mostly cloudy weather over the next few days. It is possible that it will rain from time to time due to strong winds, and the weather will gradually get colder towards the end of the week.