London is set to experience its warmest day of the year so far this week, with temperatures forecast to reach 26°C on Friday, May 1. The capital has enjoyed splendid spring weather in recent days, but this trend will come to an abrupt end as the bank holiday weekend arrives.
Sunny Start, Rainy End to Friday
According to the Met Office, sunny weather and highs of 18°C and 20°C are expected on Wednesday and Thursday respectively, before the mercury peaks at 26°C on Friday afternoon. However, this spell of fine weather will be cut short at around 5 pm as rain sweeps across the city. BBC Weather predicts showers with brief sunny periods throughout the remainder of the evening.
Bank Holiday Weekend Dampened
A brief period of sunshine is expected on Saturday morning, May 2, but from roughly midday the dreary tone for the entire bank holiday weekend will set in. Light rain or drizzle is expected throughout the remainder of Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, as temperatures drop to 18°C. This change in conditions is due to a high pressure system over the UK, which has resulted in a particularly dry April, moving away and no longer blocking cooler winds from the Atlantic Ocean.
Day-by-Day Breakdown
- Wednesday 19th: 18°C / 11°C. Dry with long sunny spells and a strong, gusty easterly wind. Patchy cloud later; warm inland but cooler on the coast.
- Thursday 20th: 21°C / 10°C. Another dry day with plenty of sunshine. Winds easing inland, though remaining cool in exposed eastern areas.
- Friday 21st: 26°C / 12°C. Very warm and sunny start. Cloud builds from the west in the afternoon with heavy, thundery showers possible later.
- Saturday 22nd: 23°C / 13°C. Sunny spells to start, turning cloudier with showery rain developing later. Becoming more unsettled.
- Sunday 23rd: 19°C / 10°C. Cloudy and cooler with lighter winds. Risk of heavy rain or showers throughout the day.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree said: "By Friday, conditions are expected to become more unsettled, with rain and showers spreading in from the southwest, some of which could be heavy and possibly thundery. Ahead of this, it will feel warm and humid in parts of England on Friday, with temperatures potentially reaching 24°C in central and southern areas. Into the Bank Holiday weekend, the weather looks more changeable, with showers at times – particularly in the north – but also some sunnier intervals. Details will become clearer closer to the weekend, so do keep up to date with the latest Met Office forecast."
