Shropshire sizzles on May Day scorcher
It was the hottest May Day bank holiday since records began as temperatures sizzled across Shropshire today.
Temperatures soared to 25C (77F) in parts of the county – and the nice weather was due to continue tomorrow, although forecasters expect it to be slightly cooler.
The county saw snow and ice less than two months ago but shorts and T-shirts were being dug out from the back of drawers today as people looked to make the most of the warm weather.
Greg Dewhurst, weather forecaster for the Met Office, said temperatures had climbed to 19C (66.2F) by 10am and there would be “wall-to-wall sunshine” across the county.
He said: “Average temperatures should be about 15C (59F) so they are about 10C (50F) above average for this time of year.”
He said temperatures needed to soar above 23.6C (74.48F) in the UK for it to be the hottest May Day bank holiday on record.
Shawbury was one of the hottest parts of the county, with temperatures peaking at 25C (77F) at about 5pm.
Tomorrow, temperatures are expected to peak at about 20C (68F) in the county.
Mr Dewhurst said: “We are looking at a sunny start. You would then start to see cloud and you could start to see patchy rain.
“Temperature wise, you are looking at more like 20C (68F) or 21C (69.8F).”
The weather in the county is expected to cool down further later this week, with highs of 14C (57.2F) and lows of 5C (41F) on Friday.
In other parts of England today, temperatures were expected to soar to 28C (82.4F).
The May Bank Holiday was introduced in 1978.
Bank Holiday Monday in 1999 was 23.6C (74.48F), while the hottest bank holiday weekend ever was in 1995 when temperatures peaked on the Saturday at 28.6C (83.48F).
On Sunday, the mercury hit 22.3C (72.14F) in Edinburgh and 20.8C (69.44F) in Katesbridge in County Down – making for the hottest day of 2018 in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The weather is set to become mixed as the month progresses, and the May 19 wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle draws near. Met Office forecaster Charlie Powell: “We’ve got this idea that there could be some warmer spells, most likely across the south and east of England, so at least that bodes well for wedding locations.”
Royal bride Meghan may be hoping the rain will stay away for her big day at Windsor Castle.
Looking at the long range forecast, which is not as accurate as the shorter range forecast,said: “It looks like we should be prepared for some pretty changeable weather throughout the second half of May.
“We’re still going to see some dry days, but there’s still going to be some wet days mixed in as well.”
He said temperatures will generally be above normal, but this will depend on whether it is a sunny day or a sunny wetter day.
“So it doesn’t look like it’s going to carry on in a similar kind of vein to high pressure in charge, sunshine, light winds, high temperatures, that we have now.
“Neither does it look like it’s going to be a complete washout, horrible end to the month of May.
“But I think we can expect things to be not as warm as they are now, but also not as dry as they are now,” he said.
Mr Powell added: “Fingers crossed it all kind of ties in with one of the drier days.”
