BRITS are soaking up the sun and hitting the beaches as the Bank Holiday weekend gets off to a sweltering start.
The predicts temperatures to soar as high as 33C on Monday which could see the hottest May ever recorded.
Brits are soaking up the sun and hitting the beaches as the Bank Holiday weekend gets underway Credit: LNP
Temperatures could reach a sweltering 33C on Monday Credit: MET Office
Sunbathers and families have flocked to beaches across the UK to soak up the sizzling hot sunshine.
The beach at the seaside resort of Lyme Regis is packed while crowds have also been spotted cooling off in the water at Beach in .
Holidaymakers have also swarmed Dawlish Warren in while in London, tourists were seen enjoying the hot in St James’ Park.
Friday marked the hottest day of the year with 26.9C recorded in Heathrow but the mercury is expected to hit 30C on Saturday afternoon.
Crowds flocked to Dawlish Warren in Devon today Credit: Alamy
Tourists could also be enjoying the weather in London Credit: PA
Crowds soaking up the sun in Lyme Regis, Devon today Credit: Alamy
Others took to cooling off in the water as temperatures soar Credit: LNP
On Sunday, the Met Office predicts and will be dry with plenty of sunshine and temperatures reaching the low 30s in the southeast.
Several temperature records could be broken over the course of the weekend included the hottest May Day ever recorded as temperatures could climb as high as 33C.
The weekend could also see Wales’ hottest May Day as well as the UK’s hottest bank holiday on record.
Tesco was also preparing for a Bank Holiday bonanza with an extra 100,000 bags of charcoal as families fire up the barbecue.
It expects to sell over a million packs of sausages, 1.6million burgers, 500,000 packs of chicken wings, beef kebabs and BBQ pulled pork.
The supermarket giant also reckons the sun will see a huge rush on beer, cider and wine.
Pubs are also preparing for a massive £50million boost at the bar with an extra 5.4 million pints expected to be pulled across the four-day bonanza.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster, Steve Kocher said previously: “Temperatures will climb through the weekend, especially in the south, where 30C is likely to be recorded on Saturday and 32C on Sunday.
“Temperatures are forecast to peak on Monday when we could see 33C recorded in southern England and the Midlands.”
He added that “it is likely” that the UK’s temperature records for May and overall will be surpassed in the coming days – the existing benchmark is 32.8C.
Traffic queues at the Port of Dover on Friday with heavy traffic expected over the weekend Credit: PA
Traffic queuing for the Euro Tunnel site along the M20 motorway in Folkestone, Kent Credit: PA
Mr Kocher said: “As well as it being hot, there will be lots of dry and sunny weather for much of the UK. There will however be more cloud and some showers in and western Scotland through the weekend.
“With relatively low sea surface temperatures there is also likely to be some low cloud and sea fog clinging closely to western coasts.”
The UK Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued health alerts which came into place on Friday at 2pm and last until next Wednesday at 5pm.
The alert will be in force for the East Midlands, West Midlands, the east of England, London and the South East.
According to the UKHSA website, an amber heat health alert means there is likely to be “a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions” and increased demand on all health and social care services.
The coolest regions are expected to be those further to the north and west of the UK – areas of Scotland and Northern Ireland are set to be in the teens and low twenties.
The Met Office five-day forecast
Today:
Some patchy cloud and light rain in the northwest with some gusty winds. Some lower cloud in the southwest, mostly around coasts. Otherwise, another very warm for many, especially in the southeast. Cooler around coasts with a sea breeze.
Tonight:
Stays cloudy and breezy in the northwest with patchy rain. Variable cloud elsewhere with clear spells and light winds. Mist and fog in places. A mild night to come.
Sunday:
Much of England and Wales will be dry with plenty on sunshine. A widely hot or even very hot day with places reaching the low 30s in the southeast.
Monday to Wednesday:
The hot and dry weather continues into Bank Holiday Monday. Clear skies developing for Northern Ireland and Scotland from Tuesday. Temperatures staying in the low 30s across the southeast.
Similarly, the Met Office advises that coastal regions will be “noticeably cooler” than inland areas, with the south-eastern coast expected to see temperatures closer to the 20C mark.
Following Bank Holiday Monday, temperatures are expected to remain in the low 30s across the southeast.
And some parts of Scotland and are forecast to see temperatures reaching the mid-20s by next week.
Meanwhile, more than 19million drivers are expected to hit the roads over the weekend with huge queues at the Port of Dover.
There is currently processing wait times of 50 minutes with ferry passengers warned to expect long queues and possible delays amid EU border checks.
The port is preparing for 18,000 travellers between Friday and Sunday, and warned that the busiest periods each day will be between 6am and about 1pm.
There are also long queues at for the Euro Tunnel site along the M20 motorway in Folkestone, Kent as the Bank Holiday getaway continues.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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