People in most parts of the UK should be able to avoid getting caught in the rain this bank holiday weekend, say forecasters.
Largely dry conditions will be descend across much of the country today after two days of showers and thunderstorms, with skies clearing in the early hours of Friday (August 26).
The pleasant weather will then continue from Saturday through to Monday, with widespread sunshine and temperatures in the mid 20s, potentially even reaching as high as 30C.
British Weather Services senior meteorologist Jim Dale said: "As it looks from the models now, around the bank holiday temperatures could be in the high 20s and the extreme would be 30C degrees.
"The southern areas might see 25C, 26C, 27C degrees and the odd 28C 29C, with the extreme getting to 30C degrees."
Weather maps from WXcharts however suggest a few unlucky areas in the west will see isolated showers over the course of the weekend, though these are expected to clear quickly.
Motorists have meanwhile been told to prepare for busy roads on Friday, with the RAC estimating that 4.3 million cars will be heading to holiday hotspots within the UK.
RAC Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis said: “As it’s the last bank holiday before Christmas for many people, we expect traffic congestion to build through the course of Friday afternoon and the same to happen in waves through the weekend.
"Settled weather will be good news for most, but drivers need to be aware of showers in the west with the possibility of standing water posing a hazard."
UK weather forecast:
Rain or showers in western parts. Dry and fine elsewhere.
Today:
Cloud and rain initially across western regions will move slowly east and become more showery through the day. Some of the showers may be heavy across southern Scotland. Dry and fine in many central and eastern areas, and northwest Scotland.
Tonight:
A few lingering showers but many areas becoming dry with variable cloud and occasional clear spells. Chilly in parts of the north and west.
Saturday:
Scattered showers developing across much of England, Wales and eastern Scotland by midday with the best of the sunshine expected in western parts. Patchy rain reaching the far northwest later.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
Perhaps some rain in the far northwest on Sunday. Otherwise mostly dry with sunny spells, sunniest in the west. A few showers possible in the north and west on Sunday.
