The UK faces a washout first weekend after coronavirus restrictions have been relaxed, forecasters have warned.
Weather warnings for wind are in place on Thursday and Friday across parts of England and Wales, with some coastal areas likely to be hit with 85mph gusts, the Met Office said.
But forecasters said that there will also be heavy showers across parts of the country, with up to 100mm of rainfall on higher ground.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said that the wet weather will continue over the weekend and while the showers will be broken up by sunny spells it is uncertain how long these will be.
Read our weather live blog below for the latest updates…
- Niamh Cavanagh
TONIGHT'S FORECAST
It will continue unsettled and overcast during the evening with cloudy skies and outbreaks of rain and showers continuing, more so across eastern areas.
Overnight will continue cloudy with spells of rain turning increasingly light and patchy.
It will remain breezy but winds will ease by dawn.
- Niamh Cavanagh
CONTINUED – WIND AND RAIN TO RAVAGE UK ON FIRST FRIDAY OF RELAXED RESTRICTIONS IN ENGLAND
Mr McGivern said Friday promises rain and wind for all parts of the nation.
He said: "It's going to be a wet and windy start for many on Friday morning
"The heaviest rain will be in north-west England, parts of Wales, and then increasingly the South West, the Midlands and the rain reaching the South East by the end of the afternoon as a showery situation develops.
"Eastern Scotland as well as north-east England stays dull and damp throughout much of the day – and with the wind in the North East it's going to feel raw."
Forecasters have predicted up to 100mm of rainfall on higher ground in Wales.
Daytime temperatures are set to be low for the time of year, with the mercury expected to rise to around 14C London, and 12C in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.
- Niamh Cavanagh
WIND AND RAIN TO RAVAGE UK ON FIRST FRIDAY OF RELAXED RESTRICTIONS IN ENGLAND
Wind and rain is forecast to ravage the UK on the first Friday that people have been allowed to meet in large groups outside in England.
Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern has described the outlook across the nation as a "showery situation" on Friday and Saturday, with drier weather on the horizon by Sunday.
A yellow weather warning for winds that could cause travel disruption is in place for the southwest corner of England from 3pm on Friday, with 60mph gusts expected on the coast.
- Niamh Cavanagh
WILD WEATHER HITS NEWHAVEN HARBOUR
Strong gales at Newhaven Harbour forced winds to crash into the sea wall this morning.
Credit: EDDIE MITCHELL - Niamh Cavanagh
HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS!
Below is a list of the strongest gales to hit England overnight last night.
- Niamh Cavanagh
POLLEN FORECAST FOR TODAY
There are small amounts of pollen airborne today across the UK.
According to the Met Office, oak tree pollen might pose a risk during spells of dry and sunny weather.
Pollen is likely to increase slightly after rainfall today.
Credit: Met Office - Joseph Gamp
10 DAY WEATHER TREND – TEMPERATURES ON THE RISE AFTER A WEEK OF RAIN AND WIND
10 Day trend – Temperatures on the rise after a week of rain and wind
- Joseph Gamp
WILL THIS MONTH BEAT THE WETTEST MAY ON RECORD?
The wettest May on record was in 1967, when 5.2 inches of rain fell in total.
But after a seriously sodden month, could this year beat that?
The wet weather has been relentless this month, and despite only being halfway through May, 2.8 inches of rain has fallen across the UK on average.
More than a month’s worth of the wet stuff has already fallen across the country as the lockdown rules have started to lift, but it remains to be seen if it will be a record breaking May.
- Joseph Gamp
LONG RANGE FORECAST FOR NEXT WEEK – MET OFFICE
The Met Office long-range forecast for Saturday, May 22 to Monday May 31 says: “Unsettled conditions continuing, with scattered showers again developing across most areas.
“These showers are likely to be heavy at times, with thunderstorms possible in places.
“On Friday and possibly into the weekend, more prolonged spells of rain are likely at times, especially in the west. Into next week, there is a chance of more settled conditions to gradually become established.
“Whilst further rain and showers are possible, overall drier and brighter conditions should become more dominant.
“Staying rather cool for the time of year, although night time frost will be limited, mainly across rural, northern areas. During next week, there are some indications that conditions may start to turn warmer, with temperatures closer to normal for the time of year.”
- Joseph Gamp
LONDON BRACING FOR 15 HOUR DOWNPOURS
London is set for a washout weekend as the Met Office forecast 15 hours of downpours.
“Wet and windy on Friday, with coastal gales, showers or longer spells of rain,” the Met said.
“Lighter winds on Saturday, with sunny spells and showers. A chilly start on Sunday, then further showers.”
But between the showers, sunshine should peek through the clouds at around 4pm on Saturday.
- Joseph Gamp
RAIN WREAKS HAVOC ON HAYFEVER SUFFERERS
Are you experiencing a runny nose or itchy eyes?
It may be due to the pollen spores wreaking havoc due to the rain.
Small amounts of grass pollen are now airborne in the summer months, and the rain exacerbates it – which in turn aggravates hayfever symptoms.
- Joseph Gamp
MET OFFICE RELEASES '4CAST' FOR FRIDAY
- Joseph Gamp
RETURN OF INDOOR BOOZING COMES AT RIGHT TIME
The return of indoor boozing has come at the perfect time as May continues to be wet and windy.
Brits hit the town with the protection of a roof and walls which prompted boozers to spend £2.8 million a minute enjoying The Great Indoors in fully open pubs and restaurants.
On Monday 2.5million pub drinkers knock back nine million pints, as 11.5million ate at restaurants and cafes, munching six million sandwiches and enjoying five million coffees.
- Joseph Gamp
WATCH: NOAA PREDICTS ANOTHER ACTIVE ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON
NOAA predicts another active Atlantic hurricane season
- Joseph Gamp
HEAVY RAIN IN SOUTHERN UNITED STATES CREATES ‘SIGNIFICANT FLOOD RISK’
The U.S. National Weather Service said late on Wednesday that heavy rain across the Gulf coasts of Texas and Louisiana will continue to result in a significant flood risk into this weekend.
Widespread flash flood watches and flood warnings were already in effect over the south-central United States following several days of heavy rainfall, the NWS said, including parts of Arkansas, Mississippi and Oklahoma.
At one point early Wednesday, more than 100,000 customers were without power in Texas, according to the website PowerOutage.us. By evening, that number was at around 17,700 customers.
In Louisiana, at least four people have died this week as a result of the weather, CNN reported, citing the Louisiana Department of Health
- Joseph Gamp
MET OFFICE YELLOW WIND WARNING IN PLACE UNTIL 9AM TODAY
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for wind.
They warned “windy weather may lead to some travel disruption and, perhaps, damage to temporary outdoor structures.
“An unusually deep area of low pressure for the time of year will move slowly eastwards across a central swathe of the UK during Thursday night and Friday.
“In addition to some heavy rain, this low will bring with it a spell of relatively high winds,” the warning read.
“The windiest conditions will start to affect south Wales and southwest England Thursday late afternoon and evening before spreading across southern England Thursday night and early Friday.”
- Joseph Gamp
THIS MONTH COULD BE THE WETTEST MAY ON RECORD
This month could be the wettest May on record, surpassing 1967, when 131.7mm of rain fell across the UK.
But why has the start of summer got off to such a damp start?
The positioning of the jet stream to the south of the UK is to blame, as it has normally moved to the north of the country at this time of year to bring calmer conditions, according to meteorologists.
However, all is not lost – as the Met Office said: “Things should actually be a bit warmer in some places over the next couple of days, with temperatures of up to 17C in the southeast of England.”
- Joseph Gamp
MET OFFICE FORECAST FOR FRIDAY TO MONDAY
Friday:
Outbreaks of rain and strong winds continuing for most areas, heavy in places. Some brighter spells may lead to heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms across parts of England. Feeling cool.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Sunshine and scattered showers on Saturday. Cloud, rain and stronger winds moving east on Sunday followed by further showers, locally heavy with thunder on Monday. Rather cool.
- Joseph Gamp
IN PICTURES: HUGE WAVES BREAK OVER PORTHCAWL LIGHTHOUSE, SOUTH WALES
Huge waves break over the lighthouse as high winds hit the sea front in Porthcawl in South WalesCredit: WNS - Joseph Gamp
WATCH: MET OFFICE WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST WITH AIDAN MCGIVERN
- Joseph Gamp
“UNSEASONABLE” LATE SPRING STORM
An “unseasonable” late spring storm is heading to batter Britain from the Atlantic Ocean in the next 24 hours – and could bring three inches of rain and 60mph winds.
Concerns have been raised for temporary structures that are erected at the moment, including vaccination marquees and outdoor seating at bars and restaurants.
Met Office meteorologist Nicky Maxey said: ‘These structures will be vulnerable to the high winds we are expecting, anything between 40 and 50mph.
“This kind of weather event is fairly unseasonable. The only glimmer of hope is that it does look as if high pressure is beginning to build towards the second half of next week. This could bring drier and more settled conditions.”
- Joseph Gamp
FIRST POST-LOCKDOWN WEEKEND TO BE A WASHOUT
The UK faces a washout first weekend after coronavirus restrictions have been relaxed, forecasters have warned.
Weather warnings for wind are in place on Thursday and Friday across parts of England and Wales, with some coastal areas likely to be hit with 60mph gusts, the Met Office said.
But forecasters said that there will also be heavy showers across parts of the country, with up to 100mm of rainfall on higher ground.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said that the wet weather will continue over the weekend and while the showers will be broken up by sunny spells it is uncertain how long these will be.
- Joseph Gamp
MET OFFICE: MORE WET AND WINDY WEATHER IN STORE FRIDAY MORNING
The Met Office tweeted: "More wet and windy weather is in store on Friday morning.
"A wind warning remains in force.
"See http://bit.ly/WxWarning for the latest updates."
- Joseph Gamp
IN PICTURES: PEOPLE ENJOY THE SUNRISE OVER RICHMOND PARK, LONDON
Early morning revellers watch an impressive sunrise from Richmond Park earlier this morningCredit: Rick Findler - Joseph Gamp
HEAVY RAIN IN SOUTHERN UNITED STATES CREATES ‘SIGNIFICANT FLOOD RISK’
The U.S. National Weather Service said late on Wednesday that heavy rain across the Gulf coasts of Texas and Louisiana will continue to result in a significant flood risk into this weekend.
Widespread flash flood watches and flood warnings were already in effect over the south-central United States following several days of heavy rainfall, the NWS said, including parts of Arkansas, Mississippi and Oklahoma.
At one point early Wednesday, more than 100,000 customers were without power in Texas, according to the website PowerOutage.us. By evening, that number was at around 17,700 customers.
In Louisiana, at least four people have died this week as a result of the weather, CNN reported, citing the Louisiana Department of Health
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