The start of the summer holidays looks set to be wet, dull and gloomy for many as the UK looks set to bit hit by a bit of a washout.
Current forecasts suggest some areas will see “heavy and persistent” rain on Saturday, especially over high ground in the west. In fact, the entire first two weeks of the holidays look set to be wet for most.
But the Met Office says there does appear to be light at the end of the tunnel. As the second week of August appears to show more settled weather for many.
The UK is seeing poor weather due to the position of the jet stream – which is also pushing high pressure to the south where parts of Europe are seeing a heatwave.
Rachel Ayers, meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “At the moment it’s divided, we sit on the cold side of the jet to the north of it, we’ve got low pressure coming. It can stay like this for quite a while as it has been for the last few weeks.
“It’s hard to say when it will all break down, it’s not looking like anything will soon. The heatwave is starting to ease a little in parts of Europe, but now the focus is moving to Italy and Greece away from Spain.
“Looking at a longer range, it will be cool and changeable, into the second week of August it could be a little more settled.
“But it doesn’t mean we’re not going to see any settled interludes in the meantime, on Tuesday we’ve got a nudge of high pressure which means showers will be less heavy and more isolated, so it’ll bring a more settled day.
“The overall picture for the next couple of weeks is mostly damp and no prolonged spells of settled weather or above average temperatures.”
Millions of families are expected to take to the roads over the weekend for a day trip or holiday, according to the RAC.
The Met Office predicts Saturday will bring cloud f or many with outbreaks of rain pushing east, heavy at times. The northern half of Scotland will stay drier with sunny spells and a few showers.
It looks set to become increasingly windy for southern England and Wales, feeling disappointingly cool for most.
Sunday is forecast to bring rain for swathes of the UK with brighter spells in places.
