In contrast to the mini-heatwave over Easter when temperatures hit 25C in the southeast, this Bank Holiday is set to be the coldest in 40 years.

Parts of the UK will struggle to get above single figures today, with the mercury staying at around 4C across most of Scotland.

Much of northern and eastern England won’t fare much better, with temperatures of only 7C in York and Peterborough.

A band of cloudy and rainy weather is forecast to work its way south over a huge swathe of the UK, the Met Office warned.

Further showers are expected over Friday night, especially along the North Sea coast.

“Cold air of Arctic and polar origin will arrive from Friday and through the Bank Holiday weekend”

Mark Wilson, Met Office forecaster

On Saturday there is even a risk of snow as temperatures plummet to -6C in the north of Scotland.

If the mercury reaches that low, it will be the coldest May Bank Holiday since the day was created in 1978.

The coldest-ever May Day temperature recorded is -5.9C in Kinbrace, Sutherland, in the Scottish Highlands in 2012.

Frost is a real risk in inland areas, a Met Office forecaster warned.

In its daily forecast, Meteogroup said: “It will be very cold in northern Scotland with scattered wintry showers.”

Met Office forecaster Mark Wilson said: “Cold air of Arctic and polar origin will arrive from Friday and through the Bank Holiday weekend.”

He added: “Snow and sleet could be seen on Friday and Saturday on the highest ground of the Peak District, Pennines and Scotland, with a small chance on the Chilterns.

“Widespread frost could be seen with -5C possible on Friday and Saturday night in the north, with a low chance of -6C, with Sunday night a bit less cold with frost in places.

But its not a disaster for all of us, with many parts of the country set to be spared from rain.

BBC weather host Carol Kirkwood said: “Many of us are starting off on a dry note, some sunshine around, we have got some showers currently and we will see other showers develop through the course of the day.”

Yesterday, we mapped where wintry showers are likely to hit this Bank Holiday weekend.

While Daily Star Online has produced a guide to when our remaining Bank Holidays are this year.

• BBC
• Heatwave
• Met Office
• UK weather
• Weather forecast

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