B1 Intermediate · 309 words · 2 min read

Heavy Showers and 50mph Gusts Forecast for UK Bank Holiday Weekend

Thundery downpours and gusts of up to 50mph are forecast, with a risk of flash flooding in the Midlands and northern England.

Areas of heavy rain and showers are expected to sweep across parts of the UK on each day of the weekend, which is a bank holiday for many. The rain could make for some soggy moments at the festivals taking place over the coming days, while strong winds and gales may cause problems for travellers and holidaymakers in southern parts of the country.

BBC Weather's Matt Taylor said the weekend would not be a complete washout for many people. Most areas will still see some drier and sunnier moments through the three days, and parts of north and west Scotland may see very little rainfall at all. "It is certainly worth looking deeper into your weather app forecasts to see the hourly breakdown as showers can sometimes be tricky to forecast," he said.

On Saturday, several zones of heavy showers are forecast to sweep across England and Wales in particular, and some could be torrential and thundery in the southern half of both countries. In northern England the showers are likely to merge into longer spells of rain during the afternoon. After the downpours already seen this week, parts of the Midlands and northern England are considered more susceptible to flash flooding. A large portion of Scotland and Northern Ireland will stay dry.

Sunday may begin dry and bright, with mist and fog patches in central and northern areas, before another zone of heavy and thundery showers arrives from the west. On Monday, scattered showers in the west will spread more widely, but they should not be as intense.

The strongest winds are expected on Saturday across southern counties of England and Wales and the Channel Islands, where some hills and coasts could see gusts of 40 to 50mph. Temperatures will be around 15 to 22 Celsius, a shade below average, bringing a record-breaking summer to a damp close.

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