![Britain faces a brief reprieve over the bank holiday as the downpours that sparked the flood chaos give way to sunny spells – but more rain and thunderstorms are on the horizon. Britain faces a brief reprieve over the bank holiday as the downpours that sparked the flood chaos give way to sunny spells – but more rain and thunderstorms are on the horizon.](https://i3.wp.com/i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/24/01/85277555-13454235-image-a-69_1716512009112.jpg?w=634&resize=634,423&ssl=1)
Storm conditions are expected to ease over the bank holiday weekend, with some areas seeing maximum temperatures of 23C, the Met Office said.
Forecasters say all parts of the UK will experience dry spells over the weekend, with the sunniest and driest periods arriving on Saturday.
It comes after flooding hit parts of northern England this week, with Carlisle, Cumbria, receiving 88mm of rain in 48 hours. The average for May is 55 mm for the whole month.
Met Office meteorologist Amy Bokota said conditions would improve over the bank holiday, with some areas seeing maximum temperatures of 23C on Saturday.
She told the PA news agency: “The depression is expected to move eastwards on Friday. It will be a little cooler than the last two days and parts of the North East and Scotland will see showers. Overall, it’s an improved picture.
![Britain faces a brief reprieve over the bank holiday as the downpours that sparked the flood chaos give way to sunny spells – but more rain and thunderstorms are on the horizon. Britain faces a brief reprieve over the bank holiday as the downpours that sparked the flood chaos give way to sunny spells – but more rain and thunderstorms are on the horizon.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/24/01/85277555-13454235-image-a-69_1716512009112.jpg)
Forecasters say all parts of the UK will experience dry spells over the weekend, with the sunniest and driest periods arriving on Saturday.
![A sea of parasols on the Royal Mile as shoppers and visitors brave heavy rain affecting much of Scotland.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/24/01/85277565-13454235-image-a-70_1716512010946.jpg)
A sea of parasols on the Royal Mile as shoppers and visitors brave heavy rain affecting much of Scotland.
![Flooding following heavy rain on Wednesday in Loftus, North Yorkshire.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/24/01/85277559-13454235-image-a-71_1716512012604.jpg)
Flooding following heavy rain on Wednesday in Loftus, North Yorkshire.
![ow lying dark clouds over farmers' fields at Dunsden, Oxfordshire](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/24/01/85277557-13454235-image-a-72_1716512014668.jpg)
ow lying dark clouds over farmers’ fields at Dunsden, Oxfordshire
“Things are going to get better as we head into Saturday morning. The wind will weaken and the day will be quite good overall.
“Scotland will see some showers, but most of the UK will see brighter periods. The best will be 22-23°C in the south of England and London.
On Saturday evening, some showers are expected across South Wales, the South West and Cornwall. This is then expected to move north on Sunday.
On Sunday, the weather will be cloudier and the rains will increase. North West England and South Wales may experience thunderstorms.
Ms Bokota added: “It will remain unstable until the public holiday on Monday. There will be further showers in parts of Scotland, the north east of England and Northern Ireland.
“The best weather will be in the far southwest of the UK and southern England.” Elsewhere, heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms will be observed. The situation will then remain quite unstable next week.
“Overall, there are no major monitoring points in case of flooding. Although rain is expected, it will move more quickly and will not be the same heavy, persistent rain that we have had over the last few days.
![Avanti West Coast today canceled its services between Preston and Scotland after the River Caldew overflowed and flooded the tracks at Carlisle, blocking the West Coast Main Line.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/24/01/85240845-13454235-Avanti_West_Coast_cancelled_services_between_Preston_and_Scotlan-a-73_1716512099275.jpg)
Avanti West Coast today canceled its services between Preston and Scotland after the River Caldew overflowed and flooded the tracks at Carlisle, blocking the West Coast Main Line.
![Muddy conditions in the Oxfordshire countryside this morning after heavy rain in Dunsden](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/24/01/85237195-13454235-Muddy_conditions_in_the_Oxfordshire_countryside_this_morning_aft-a-74_1716512101136.jpg)
Muddy conditions in the Oxfordshire countryside this morning after heavy rain in Dunsden
![Leah Harrison, 10, from Darlington, died in a mudslide during a school trip to Yorkshire yesterday.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/24/01/85243201-13454235-Leah_Harrison_10_from_Darlington_died_in_a_mudslide_on_a_school_-a-75_1716512103015.jpg)
Leah Harrison, 10, from Darlington, died in a mudslide during a school trip to Yorkshire yesterday.
It came as Britons faced major rail disruption due to severe flooding after a young girl died in a mudslide amid a month of rain and a warning of ” danger to life” of the Met Office.
Avanti West Coast has canceled services between Preston and Scotland after the River Caldew overflowed and flooded the tracks at Carlisle, blocking the West Coast Main Line in both directions. Avanti urged passengers: “Do not travel north of Preston. »
Other trains in the north of England have been canceled or delayed due to speed restrictions due to stormy weather, with routes affected by the northern warning including York to Blackpool, Leeds to Manchester, Bradford to Huddersfield and Hull to Halifax.
The damage will continue today, particularly in the North West which is under orange alert. A further month of rain is expected in 24 hours between 12pm yesterday and 12pm today – following the same figure in the previous 24 hour period.
Downpours led to some homes being flooded, and properties in Cumbria and Essex were evacuated – while sandbags were distributed in Harlow after sewers overflowed. The Environment Agency today imposed 20 flood warnings and 116 alerts for England.
The wettest place yesterday was Toddington in Bedfordshire, which received 79mm (3.1in) of rain in 24 hours – compared to the UK’s average rainfall for May of 71mm (2.0in) 8 inches).
As for the bank holiday weekend, Saturday will be dry with temperatures up to 21°C (70°F) in the south, but showers could return on Sunday and Monday.
It comes after ten-year-old Leah Harrison died in a mudslide while on a school trip to Carlton-in-Cleveland, on the edge of the North York Moors, yesterday afternoon.
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