UK weather – Rain and cloud will hit half the country today but brace for more sunshine on bank holiday Monday

RAIN and clouds will hit half the country today – but the sun is expected to return by Bank Holiday Monday.

Parts of the UK hit 18C yesterday in time for the long weekend, making it hotter than Istanbul in Turkey.

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Britons flocked to the beaches to enjoy the glorious sunshine, and some even braved the sea in the scorching heat.

But as of today, the Met Office has forecast clouds and heavy rain, with strong gale force winds battering the country.

The south of the country will be hit with showers – while conditions should improve in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where brighter spells will develop.

But by Monday, the whole of Britain is expected to see sunshine.

David Oliver, the Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist, said: “It’s a different weather mix this Bank Holiday weekend after a broadly even week for the UK.

“The anticyclone that has dominated Britain for the last few days will move southwards, allowing a low pressure system to invade from the north-west.

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“This will bring even more unsettled weather with showers or prolonged rains in the north on Saturday and then in the southern areas on Sunday.

“Much dry weather is expected on Monday, with only scattered showers and mild temperatures seen in most areas, staying largely in the mid-teens.”

Forecasters expect the band of lows to move across the UK this weekend, dampening sunshine expected in the south tomorrow.

The low pressure area will introduce clouds and bursts of rain for much of Scotland and Northern Ireland with some blustery winds in exposed coastal areas.

By Tuesday, forecasters expect cloudiness in the north and northwest, with intermittent rain, the Met Office reports.

Most of the south will remain dry for the rest of the week as the sunny spells continue.

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