It has been a muggy week so far with some rain around, but an area of high pressure is set to bring a final blast of summer for Wales this bank holiday weekend. The Met Office is forecasting that an Azores High will move in over the weekend allowing for lengthy spells of dry fine weather for many.
The forecasting agency's forecast for Wales over the weekend is showing "dry and sunny" spells. Welsh weather presenter Derek Brockway says that high pressure over the bank holiday weekend will bring plenty of dry weather.
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He added: "Just one or two light showers dotted around with a mix of cloud and some sunny spells. Warm or very warm with light winds. Top temperatures 20 to 25°C. More fine warm weather next week."
Speaking in the latest Met Office 10 day trend, Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern said “The Azores are a group of islands in the mid-Atlantic. Semi-permanent high pressure sits here throughout much of the year.
"But what's been happening through this year so far and especially during the summer, is high pressure from the Azores keeps extending across the UK, hence the warm summer and the very dry summer that we've had. And that repeating pattern repeats again this weekend.”
Although high pressure means it is likely to be largely dry with warm sunny spells, Aidan said that’s not the story for everywhere. “There's also an area of low pressure which will likely bring some wetter weather for a time, later Saturday into Sunday to the northwest, mainly Northern Ireland, western Scotland, and then clearing from the far north of Scotland during Monday."
The Met Office forecast for Wales says:
Friday:
Fine in the east to start Friday, but cloudy with scattered showers further west. The showers move eastwards across the region during the day with brighter spells following into the west for the afternoon. A moderate breeze along western coasts. Maximum temperature 22 °C.
Tonight:
Late sunny spells in the west. Showers clearing the east, leaving a largely dry night for all. Cloud also breaking up to clear intervals, allowing some fog patches to develop. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
Saturday:
Fine to begin Saturday before scattered, mainly light, showers develop during the day. Still a good number of dry and sunny spells in between, in which it will feel warm. Maximum temperature 22 °C.
Outlook for Sunday to Monday:
The chance of a few showers on Sunday but mostly fine and dry into next week with sunny spells. Turning windier, particularly along southern coasts from Monday.
Though the weather is unlikely to be impactful, some travel disruption can be expected over the weekend leading the AA to issue an amber travel warning for the getaway.
The motoring organisation said it expects 45% of UK drivers to embark on at least one non-commuting journey between Friday and Monday, with families returning from summer holidays before the start of the new school year battling for road space with festivalgoers and day trippers.
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. We also strongly recommend drivers make sure their vehicles are in good working order before they set out, and keep a close eye on Met Office weather forecasts.”
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