Jubilee weekend

It will start rather cool in northern areas, while closer to average temperatures for the time of year further south, likely peaking at around 20-22C on Thursday but the south seeing temperatures of 23-25C on Friday. For the remainder of the weekend the highest temperatures are likely to be in the northwest of Scotland, with cooler conditions further south. 

From Thursday, it will be settled for most, with good periods of dry and fine weather. A low-pressure system will introduce some showers to northwestern areas for a time on Thursday, most likely affecting Northern Ireland and western Scotland, then North Wales and northwest England overnight.  

Western areas look most likely to see a few heavier showers on Friday, with a small chance of one or two for central parts, while areas further to the east should get the best of any sunshine.  

However, from Saturday, there is still a good deal of uncertainty in the forecast. Settled weather is on the cards for most northern areas with patchy cloud and sunny spells. However, a plume of warm air from the continent will influence the weather in southern and central areas, bringing showers here that could turn heavy and thundery at times. We’re keeping an eye on this situation and we may issue warnings nearer the time. So make sure you keep up to date with the latest forecast on our website or app. 

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Rebekah Sherwin said: “It may be an unsettled start to the long weekend for some with showers for Northern Ireland, Wales and western England. However, many parts will see much more settled conditions, with plenty of dry weather and good spells of sunshine. Temperatures could reach 25C in the south on Friday, although this will likely be the warmest day and later in the weekend the highest temperatures are likely to be in the northwest. 

“A plume of warm air, currently across the continent, then pushes north over the UK through the weekend. There remains some uncertainty on how far north it will stretch but southern areas are likely to see a spell of showers on Saturday and Sunday, which could turn heavy and thundery at times. However, there will also be some breaks in the cloud even here, and northern areas are most likely to stay fine and dry. 

“Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England look like they’ll see the driest conditions from Saturday onwards, most likely enjoying some prolonged periods of sunshine.”  

With a busy Jubilee weekend on the roads expected, RAC traffic spokesman Rod Dennis said: “The fact the bank holidays coincide with the end of half-term in many places has the potential to put some extra pressure on the road network, so planning a journey carefully is important to beat the worst of any queues.  

“The best way for drivers to avoid breaking down this week is to check over their vehicles before setting out – yet our research shows less than a fifth do this routinely. Making sure oil, coolant and screenwash are all at the right levels takes just minutes, as does ensuring tyres are free of damage and are inflated properly. A bit of TLC now could make the difference between a straightforward trip and one beset by a breakdown.”  

Gabbi Batchelor, Water Safety Education Manager at the RNLI said: “We are expecting the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend and the half-term holidays to be incredibly busy at the coast. We want everyone to enjoy their trip, but we also want to make sure people stay safe and know what to do in an emergency.  

“If you get into trouble in the water, Float to Live: lean back, using your arms and legs to stay afloat. Control your breathing, then call for help or swim to safety. In a coastal emergency, call 999 or 112 for the Coastguard.”  

You can check the latest forecast on our website, by following us on Twitter and Facebook, as well as on our mobile app which is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from the Google Play store. Keep track of current weather warnings on the weather warning page.