The UK could see the hottest day of the year so far this bank holiday weekend – and forecasters say Britons can expect blue skies and widespread sunshine. 

After the dismal weather so far this month, things are set to improve with highs of 23C (73.4F) in London on Saturday and predicted temperatures of 24C (75.2F) in Manchester and Liverpool on Sunday.

It is set to get even warmer on Monday, possibly reaching 25C (77F) – the hottest temperature to be recorded so far this year.

The current high for 2021 was 24.5C (76.1F) recorded on 31 March in Kew Gardens.

It marks an end to weeks of disappointing weather which had marred the reopening of pubs and restaurants, which until 17 May had only been allowed to offer outdoor dining.

Britons have been rejoicing at the turn for the better, with one Twitter user writing: “The weather forecast for bank holiday is giving me so much happiness.”

Another wrote: “Payday, bank holiday weekend AND the weather is meant to be good. Is this the beginning of the whole ‘better things are coming’ ????”

The UK has already had its fourth-wettest May on record with an average of 199mm falling, according to the Met Office’s provisional statistics.

Southwest and Southeast England were among the wettest locations, receiving more than twice the average rainfall, as well as Wales and parts of eastern Scotland.

Snow was recorded at the beginning of the month in parts of Scotland and northern England as temperatures dropped below freezing.

Wales, Scotland and the UK as a whole are currently seeing May’s average maximum temperatures in their lowest 10 ever recorded.

Met Office forecaster Matthew Box said the news would be a “welcome change” for many.

“Given that we have had a reasonably cold and then a wet couple of months through spring, with April being cold and May being wet and cloudy and generally on the cool side too, we’ve got a sunny end to May,” he said.

However, he warned people should make sure to pack their sun cream if they’re heading outside to enjoy the sun.

“It might catch a few people out given that we haven’t seen much sun and UV levels are going to be quite high over the weekend as well so that’s something to be aware of,” he said.

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