Britain is set to be hotter than Morocco this Bank Holiday Monday as temperatures could soar to 29C in some parts of the country.
In what could be the hottest August Bank Holiday in 60 years, drivers have been warned to expect traffic jams as sun-seekers look to travel to beaches and beauty spots on their well-earned day off.
Monday is set to be the hottest day of the weekend with up to 12 hours’ sunshine delighting a million Notting Hill Carnival revellers, festivals, and friends and families packing seafronts and parks.
The sunshine is set to come from a 400-mile wide ‘Spanish sizzle’ as heat from 44C Spain arrives in the UK.
Even northern areas of the country could see highs of 26C, one degree higher than the Morrocan capital Rabat is forecast tomorrow.
Temperatures over 28.2C would make Monday the second hottest late August Bank Holiday since it began 60 years ago in 1965, and the hottest for six years, since 2019’s record 33.2C, Met Office records showed.
Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said: ‘We couldn’t have asked more for a beautiful Bank Holiday weekend. It’s so good for the tourist trade.’
A Met Office forecaster said: ‘Monday is expected to be the warmest day of the weekend, with temperatures peaking around 28C in the South and Midlands, with widespread sunshine, blue skies and a summer feel.’
Temperatures over 28.2C would make Monday the second hottest late August Bank Holiday since it began 60 years ago
Sunshine is set to delight a million Notting Hill Carnival revellers this Bank Holiday Monday
Girls enjoy the sunshine at Leeds Festival 2025 this bank holiday weekend
Even areas in the north could see highs in the mid 20s, as the UK is set to be hotter than Morocco
But if you thought Frantic Friday’s getaway was bad, just wait for Mad Monday snarl-ups.
The highest number of cars of the weekend is due on the roads as the best weather of the weekend triggers up to 10 million more Brits taking last-minute day trips, VisitEngland data showed.
Trippers will clash with millions of staycationers heading home this afternoon (Mon) at the end of the long weekend.
But make the most of the heat as Hurricane Erin brings washouts to empty beaches on Tuesday
Hurricane Erin, spinning across the Atlantic, will bring soakings from tomorrow (Tue) and gusty winds threaten in midweek, dampening the last week of school holidays, with highs in the low 20s.
A Met Office forecaster said: ‘The remnants of ex-Hurricane Erin will see a band of rain, which could be heavy, pushing over the UK, displacing our settled weather and bringing more spells of rain and perhaps strong winds in places by midweek.’
The RNLI has warned that the conditions could become dangerous for anyone entering the water later this week.
Chris Cousens, RNLI water safety lead, said: ‘We want people to enjoy the bank holiday and stay safe, and with this unusually big surf forecast for this time of year likely to peak later in the bank holiday weekend and early next week, it’s important for people to be aware so they can keep themselves and their families safe.
Huge crowds attend the opening day of Notting Hill Carnival 2025, known as the Family Day
Thousands of people pack the beach in Bournemouth on Sunday as holidaymakers enjoy the scorching sunshine and cloudless blue skies in Dorset
‘Big surf means greater risk from rip currents, and the swell also coincides with spring tides, which means more powerful tidal water movement at greater speed.
‘The forecast is changeable, so things might look different over the next couple of days.
‘But we do know that with the current forecast for bigger waves building and arriving towards the end and the day after the August bank holiday weekend, beaches are likely to be busy with holidaymakers and locals.
‘Some places could see bigger waves building through the weekend too.
‘We always advise people to visit a lifeguarded beach where possible – but we also appreciate people will be out on the coast where lifeguards are not present.
‘Rip currents are powerful channels of water that become more powerful in larger surf.
‘They are also found around river mouths, estuaries and man-made structures like piers and groynes.
‘Our rip current advice is the same whether you are at a lifeguarded beach or not. If you find yourself caught in a rip current don’t fight against it or you’ll get exhausted.
‘If you can stand, wade back to shore, or swim parallel to the beach until you’re free of the current, then return to the beach. Alternatively, if you can’t do either of those or are becoming exhausted, Float to Live to preserve your energy and then wave and shout for help.’