Severe weather is disrupting the bank holiday weekend across the UK and France. The Met Office and Météo France have issued warnings for strong winds reaching up to 120km/h in Europe, torrential downpours, and potential thunderstorms, creating challenging travel and outdoor conditions for millions of holidaymakers.
The long weekend is facing a turbulent start as unsettled weather systems sweep across western Europe, bringing torrential downpours, severe gales, and thunderstorms to multiple regions. While travelers hope for clear skies, national meteorologists warn that heavy rain and high winds will significantly impact transport and outdoor events.
Across the UK, the long weekend is shaping up to be a washout for many areas following an unusually dry summer. According to The Independent, heavy rain and showers are moving across the country, with the Met Office forecasting up to 95 per cent rain coverage in major cities like London, Manchester, and Cardiff on Saturday.
UK weather: Strong winds and more thunderstorms to kick
The worst of the weather is projected for northern and exposed coastal regions. The strongest winds of the weekend are expected on Saturday across southern counties of England and Wales as well as the Channel Islands, where some hills and coasts could experience gusts of 40 to 50mph.
Saturday will start with some dry spells, but rain will develop, becoming potentially heavy later in the day. Temperatures will reach a maximum of 19C, with a minimum of 12C. The morning will be mild, around 12 to 14C, with increasing chances of rain. By late morning, temperatures will rise to 15 to 17C, with rain becoming more likely. The afternoon will see temperatures around 17 to 19C, with heavy rain possible. Winds will increase to 10 to 18 mph, making it feel cooler. The evening will continue with rain or showers, and temperatures dropping to 14 to 16C.
Sunday will be more volatile, with thunderstorms forecast between 1pm and 4pm. Temperatures will reach around 19 to 20C. The morning will start at 13 to 15C, with cloud and possibly lingering showers. By late morning, temperatures will rise to 16 to 18C, with brighter intervals. The afternoon will see the main risk period for thunderstorms, with potential for torrential downpours, lightning, hail, and sudden gusty winds. The evening will see storms becoming less widespread, but showers or rain may continue, and temperatures will ease towards 14–16C.
Bank Holiday Monday will be cooler, wet, and very windy. The Met Office forecast signals rain and strengthening winds, with temperatures around 12 to 16C and gusts potentially reaching 40 mph in exposed places. Monday will be a blustery day more widely across the UK, but again it will be southern areas seeing the strongest gusts—generally 30-40mph.
The morning on Monday will start at 12 to 14C, with rain or frequent showers likely. Winds will increase from the west or south-west, reaching around 19 to 25 mph. By late morning, temperatures will rise only slightly, to around 14 to 15C. The afternoon will see temperatures reaching only around 15 to 16C, with rain or showers, extensive cloud, and strong westerly winds. The evening will see showers becoming more scattered, although it remains windy and cloudy, and temperatures will fall back towards 12 to 13C.
Met Office East Lancashire weather forecast for bank holiday
Throughout the weekend, temperatures across the UK will be around 15 to 22 Celsius, a shade below the average for the time of year. With numerous festivals on this weekend, including Reading and Leeds, Creamfields, and the Notting Hill Carnival, it is worth keeping across the forecast. Should any weather warnings be issued, they can be found on the BBC Weather app or website.
Rain is set to arrive on Friday evening in London, with heavier downpours forecast in Wales, the north of England, and Scotland throughout the day. The weekend will get off to a soggy start as rain sweeps across Cornwall and Devon on Saturday morning moving north bringing heavy downpours in the north of England and London. Despite the rain, temperatures are forecast to stay in the low 20C across England and Wales, while Edinburgh is forecast to see sunny intervals and temperatures hitting 19C.
Sunday will remain unsettled with more heavy showers and possible thunderstorms. London is expected to see light rain in the early afternoon, while Manchester and Cardiff could see heavy rain for most of the day. But the weather is set to brighten up with sunny interludes on Monday in London, with a few showers in the afternoon. According to the Met Office, the capital and parts of the South will enjoy highs of 22C and sunshine. Cardiff could also see a sunnier afternoon on Monday after downpours in the morning, with more rain forecast in Manchester and Scotland.
French Warnings: Gales up to 120km/h
Will there be storms this weekend? Bank Holiday forecast
Across the Channel, France is bracing for severe disruptions. According to the 6:00 Météo France bulletin, 44 French departments are placed under a tier-two yellow storm warning from midday. Storms will impact coastal departments in the south-west, the centre of the country, and the regions of Normandy and Île-de-France, before heading towards Hauts-de-France later in the day.
Strong winds of up to 120km/h and thunderstorms are forecast across parts of France this weekend, with southern regions expected to be hardest hit from Saturday. The start of May, marked by bank holidays and long weekends, will begin under unstable weather conditions, which are expected to worsen on Saturday with thunderstorms developing in several regions. The bad weather is linked to the arrival of cold air from the Bay of Biscay, causing strong winds to buffet southern France. As the system deepens on Friday and Saturday, the most exposed areas will be those located along typical wind corridors such as coastal and highland areas, and the Rhône Valley.
According to current model forecasts, the strongest gales are expected in Occitanie, especially Aude, Hérault, and Tarn, where gusts of the south-easterly Autan wind may exceed 120km/h in exposed areas. Provence will see strong southeasterly winds along coastal areas and inland valleys, while Corsica, particularly Balagne (Haute-Corse) and the western coast, will experience gusts reaching 80km/h. Coastal areas of Provence and Occitanie may also experience rough sea conditions, with strong winds making navigation more difficult for boats and ferries.
Saturday is expected to be the turning point of the episode. As the low-pressure system shifts, winds will strengthen further and gradually change direction. Thunderstorms are forecast in the north and south-west during the afternoon and evening. Conditions will be particularly severe across Nouvelle-Aquitaine with heavy rain, occasional hail, and strong gusts of wind.
From Sunday onwards, conditions should gradually improve in western France, although instability may persist in the south-east of the country at the beginning of next week. Temperatures are also set to drop across all regions of France.