The Met Office says unsettled weather across Wales and the UK is set to give way to warmer conditions later this week, with forecasters predicting the warmest day of the year so far ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend.
After a mixed start to the week featuring heavy showers, strong winds and the chance of thunder, temperatures are expected to climb steadily from Thursday onwards, bringing brighter and warmer weather for many parts of the country.
Tuesday is expected to bring a mix of sunshine and heavy, blustery showers across Wales, with some thunderstorms possible before conditions ease later in the day. Temperatures are forecast to reach highs of 17°C.
The Met Office said: “Any lingering rain in the east quickly clearing, leaving a blustery day with a mix of sunshine and showers. The showers will be heavy and possibly thundery, before easing later. Warm in the sunny spells, but breezy.”
Showers are expected to continue into the evening before gradually easing overnight, with Wednesday forecast to remain largely cloudy with occasional brighter spells and the possibility of some light rain.
Conditions are then expected to improve from Thursday onwards as high pressure begins to build from the south, bringing drier, brighter and warmer weather.
By Friday and Saturday, forecasters say temperatures could climb significantly, with highs of up to 28°C possible in the southeast of England, making it potentially the warmest day of the year so far.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tony Wisson said: “The weather later this week will feel like a marked contrast from recent days, with warm, fine and settled weather for many. While the warmth will persist through the Bank Holiday weekend, conditions will turn more unsettled later Friday and into Saturday, with a mix of cloud, showers and longer spells of rain.
“There is also the chance of thundery rain in places. Nonetheless, temperatures should remain warm or very warm through Saturday and into Sunday, with highs around 26°C in the south across the weekend and into next week.”
The Met Office said high pressure is expected to become the dominant influence by Sunday, helping to reduce rainfall chances and keeping temperatures above average into next week.
The warmer outlook is also expected to provide a boost for the tourism sector ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend.
Eddy Leviten, Executive Director of Tourism Alliance, said: “Tourism supports 2.4 million jobs across every region and nation of the UK, and a sunny Bank Holiday makes a real difference to the businesses that depend on visitor spend.
“A warmer, drier weekend should mean busier attractions, fuller hotels, more visitors at heritage sites and coastal resorts, and a welcome boost for towns and cities right across the country.”
