UK weather – Rain and cloud to hit half the country today but get set for more sunshine on Bank Holiday Monday

RAIN and cloud are set to hit half of the country today - but the sun is set to return by Bank Holiday Monday.

Parts of the UK yesterday hit 18C just in time for the long weekend, making it hotter than Istanbul in Turkey.

Many Brits flocked to beaches to enjoy the glorious sunshine, with some even braving the sea in the scorching weather.

But from today the Met Office has predicted cloud and some heavy rain, with strong blustery winds hitting the country.

The south of the country will be hit with showers - while conditions should improve in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where bright spells will develop.

But by Monday the whole of the UK is expected to see sunshine.

David Oliver, Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, said: “It is a different mix of weather this bank holiday weekend after what has been a largely settled week for the UK.

“The high-pressure that has been dominating the UK in recent days will move away to the south, allowing a low-pressure system to move in from the northwest.

“This will bring with it some more unsettled weather with showers or some longer spells of rain across the north on Saturday and then southern areas on Sunday.

“A good deal of dry weather is expected on Monday with most areas only seeing some isolated showers and mild temperatures, widely in the mid-teens.”

Forecasters expect the low pressure band to move across the UK this weekend, dampening the sunshine expected in the south by tomorrow.

The low-pressure system will introduce cloud and outbreaks of rain for much of Scotland and Northern Ireland with some blustery winds in exposed coastal areas. 

By Tuesday, forecasters expect it to be cloudy in the north and northwest, with some rain at times, reports the Met Office. 

Most of the south will remain dry for the rest of the week, as sunny spells continue.