Bank holiday weather forecast: UK : A Dramatic Shift Ahead

By Nathan Crowley · Sports News Writer · May 2, 2026

The UK is set to experience a significant shift from warm weather to heavy rain and thunderstorms over the bank holiday weekend. Temperatures are expected to reach 25C in eastern England on Saturday, but will fall below 20C across the country by Monday.

On Saturday evening, widespread and heavy rain will sweep across much of England and Wales. Greg Dewhurst from the Met Office noted, “Temperatures are starting to come down but in the sunnier moments it is still above average for the time of year.” Meanwhile, Grahame Madge added, “On Saturday, we’ve got the prospect of some quite heavy, thundery showers coming…into parts of southern England.”

As conditions shift, northern areas may remain largely dry through the weekend while southern regions brace for showers. Dan Harris explained that rain will reach southern England during the morning, spreading north into much of England and Wales later in the day, again heavy at times with a small risk of thunderstorms.

The warmest weather over the weekend is forecast for Saturday, particularly in parts of the East Midlands. It’s expected that temperatures could peak at 25C. However, by Monday, lingering cloud and scattered showers are anticipated across southern and central areas.

Some observers expect temperatures in the low teens for parts of northern Scotland on Monday. As one local quipped, “It wouldn’t be a Bank Holiday weekend in the UK without a bit of rain, would it?” The change from a warm week to unsettled conditions highlights just how quickly British weather can turn.

Nathan Crowley

Sports News Writer

Nathan Crowley is the Sports News Writer at NewsUK, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from regional newspapers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Cardiff University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Cardiff, he plays amateur rugby and follows the Six Nations closely. “Speed and accuracy are not a trade-off in sport news.”