The May Bank Holiday often hints at the transition from spring towards summer, but the long-term weather records show that variety is the defining feature.
Warm sunshine, heavy rain, strong winds and even late-season snow have all occurred during this period. Looking at the records helps to highlight just how changeable conditions can be at this time of year.
To reflect this, the records are split below into the wider Bank Holiday weekend and Bank Holiday Monday, with each set grouped by temperature, rainfall, wind, snow and sunshine.
May Bank Holiday weekend records
Temperature records
The warmest May Bank Holiday weekend temperature recorded in the UK is 28.7°C, reached at Northolt in Greater London in 2018. That same weekend also produced Scotland’s highest weekend temperature of 25°C at Floors Castle in Roxburghshire. Wales has seen weekend temperatures climb to 26.5°C at Cardiff Bute Park, while Northern Ireland’s highest weekend value stands at 23.4°C at Loughall in County Armagh.
Cold nights can also occur, with the lowest weekend minimum temperature across the UK falling to -6.4°C at Grantown-on-Spey and Kinbrace. Elsewhere, England has recorded -5.8°C, Wales -6.1°C, and Northern Ireland -5.0°C, underlining how frost remains possible, particularly under clear skies and light winds.
Rainfall records
Rainfall extremes show how unsettled early May can be. The wettest May Bank Holiday weekend day recorded in the UK brought 101.3mm at Trassey in County Down. England’s wettest weekend day sits at nearly 90mm in the Lake District, while Scotland has topped 80mm in parts of the Highlands. Wales has also seen severe weekend downpours, exceeding 80mm in Snowdonia.
These totals illustrate the risk from slow-moving fronts or heavy, persistent showers, especially in upland areas.
Wind records
Strong winds are another recurring feature in the records. The highest gust recorded during a May Bank Holiday weekend in the UK is 93mph at the Needles on the Isle of Wight. Scotland’s strongest weekend gusts have reached the mid-70s mph, while Wales and Northern Ireland have both seen damaging gales, particularly when deep low-pressure systems track close to the UK.
Snow and wintry weather
Although less common, wintry weather is not unheard of. The deepest snow depth recorded during a May Bank Holiday weekend is 6cm, observed in both northern Scotland and parts of south-west England. There are also years where a significant proportion of the observation network reported falling snow, highlighting how Arctic air masses can occasionally reach the UK even this late in the season.
Sunshine records
Despite the potential for unsettled weather, there are also some notably bright Bank Holiday weekends. The UK sunniest weekend day has recorded over 15 hours of sunshine, particularly in northern and island locations. Elsewhere, England, Wales and Northern Ireland have all seen close to 15 hours of sunshine on their brightest Bank Holiday weekend days.
You can explore these records using our interactive graphic below.
Bank Holiday Monday records
Temperature records
Bank Holiday Monday has shared some of the same temperature extremes as the weekend. The UK record high for the day remains 28.7°C, again recorded at Northolt in 2018. Scotland reached 25.0°C, Wales has seen 25.8°C, and Northern Ireland 23.4°C, showing that Bank Holiday Monday can feel very much like summer under the right conditions.
On colder occasions, the UK’s lowest Bank Holiday Monday temperature has dropped to -5.9°C, with sub-zero values recorded across all four nations during particularly cold years.
Rainfall records
Heavy rain has also featured on Bank Holiday Monday. The UK wettest Monday on record delivered 78.8mm in parts of Cumbria, while Wales saw totals exceed 80mm in Snowdonia. Scotland and Northern Ireland have also experienced notably wet Mondays, often associated with slow-moving frontal systems.
Wind records
Wind records for Bank Holiday Monday closely mirror those of the weekend. The strongest UK gust remains 93mph at the Needles, with exposed western and northern coasts most at risk during stormy years. Inland areas can also experience disruptive winds when gusty showers develop.
Snow and sunshine
Snow is less common on Bank Holiday Monday than across the full weekend, but measurable depths have still been recorded, particularly over higher ground in Scotland. At the brighter end of the scale, the sunniest Bank Holiday Mondays have delivered more than 15 hours of sunshine in northern Scotland, with many other areas recording long spells of clear skies.
You can explore these records using our interactive graphic below.
Keep up to date with weather warnings, and you can find the latest forecast on our website, on YouTube, by following us on X 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.
