Warmth set to wane as wind and rain return
For most of us, the weekend delivered some of the best May bank holiday weather that we’ve seen for quite a few years.
The combination of high pressure, light winds and sunshine lifted temperatures to around 21C in the warmest spots.
However, after this latest burst of warmth, there’s going to be a big change in the weather during the next few days.
As the jet stream picks up speed and sits to the south of the UK, areas of low pressure are going to be steered towards us, bringing heavy rain, as well as a notable drop in temperature.
In fact an area of low pressure that arrives on Wednesday is going to temporarily get stuck over us, bringing some windy weather on Thursday across England and Wales. The Met Office has issued a yellow alert as a result.
As the low pressure deepens, gales are going to develop on its southern side. Gusts of 40-50mph will affect southern parts of England and Wales during Thursday, with coastal areas touching 60mph.
Whilst these wind speeds are not as strong as they would be during a nasty autumn or winter storm, the thing to consider is that many trees are now in full leaf.
These leaves act as sails, giving a greater surface area to catch the wind, potentially ripping off branches, and in the worst case scenario, causing trees to be blown down.
Also, with the recent warm weather, there will be lots of garden furniture outside, which is worth securing or putting away to avoid it being blown over.
Although there may be some disappointment with the arrival of rain in the coming days, the ground is actually quite dry in some parts of England and Wales.
Following a dry April where rainfall was just 52 per cent and 56 per cent of average respectively for England and Wales, rain in the coming days welcome for gardeners.
Looking ahead to the weekend and next week, the weather looks cool and changeable, with the wettest weather in north and west, leaving southern and eastern areas relatively drier.
Don’t forget, you can get the latest forecast on the Channel 4 Weather website and I’ll be tweeting regular updates on Twitter – @liamdutton