Pubs and restaurants across the UK were forced to close early today as 50mph gales and torrential rain swept across the country on the first three-day weekend since Covid rules were relaxed.
Scores of defiant drinkers and diners were left clutching their umbrellas as the storm force winds and showers made their way across the country earlier today, with pub owners closing their outdoor marquees and gazebos as the weather continued to deteriorate.
In Manchester city centre, diners braved the elements under their umbrellas as the rain washed over the city while others sported waterproof coats as they enjoyed a funfair in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.
Meanwhile, in Sidmouth, east Devon, there was little alfresco wining and dining as scattered blustery showers swept across the region and sent temperatures plummeting to 10C.
Elsewhere, along the River Cam in Cambridge, a group of people sat under blankets as they braved the cold weather on Bank Holiday Monday.
The scenes came as Met Office forecasters issued a yellow weather warning for wind in the south of England that will remain in place until 9am tomorrow.
As hundreds across the country braved the wet and windy conditions, one lady at a caravan park in Sidcup said: ‘You wrap up for the weather, you deal with it – it’s just nice to get away.’
Another holidaymaker in Sidmouth was braced against the elements but said: ‘This is the first time we have been away since last March.’
Britain’s first bank holiday Monday since lockdown rules eased is the coldest ever with temperatures plummeting to -5.9C in Scotland.
Diners make the most of the Bank Holiday despite the weather in Manchester city centre today
Hardy drinkers brave the elements under umbrellas at the Canal House, Birmingham
Punters sitting and queuing to dine in the rain at Altincham Market in Greater Manchester
The wet bank holiday hasn’t stopped families enjoying themselves at an open air funfair in Huddersfield, Yorkshire
Diners make the most of the Bank Holiday despite the weather in Manchester city centre today
Swimmers brave the chilly sea at Langland Bay, Swansea on a wet and windy Bank Holiday Monday
People under blankets as they brave the cold weather on Bank Holiday Monday as they go for a punt on the River Cam in Cambridge
People sit down for lunch outside with hoods up on a wet and windy Bank Holiday Monday in Porthcawl, Wales
Diners make the most of the Bank Holiday despite the weather in Manchester city centre today
People are spotted huddling under umbrellas outside a McDonald’s in Manchester today
Shoppers brave the wet Bank Holiday Monday in Glasgow’s Buchanan Street today
People clung to their umbrellas while doing a spot of high street shopping on Buchanan Street in Glasgow today
Two punters were spotted wrapped up in rain coats under an awning during the rain in Glasgow
Two women were seen huddling together under an umbrella while punting down the River Cam in Cambridge
People holding umbrellas walk along High Street in Worcester as wet and windy weather covers much of the region
People shelter under umbrellas whilst punting along the River Cam in Cambridge
A man holds onto his umbrella in Worcester as wet and windy weather covers much of the region
People were spotted sheltering under umbrellas and one man even enjoyed a drink while punting along the River Cam in Cambridge
Diners make the most of the Bank Holiday despite the weather in Manchester city centre today
Pub-goers refused to let the wet weather dampen their spirits as they sad under awnings in Manchester city centre
Customers brave the cold and wear blankets over their heads to dine al fresco in Chelsea
Punters were spotted using blankets to protect themselves from the elements in Chelsea
A man leans into the gale force winds on the beach at the seaside resort of West Bay in Dorset
Diners were seen in rain ponchos huddled under umbrellas as they sat outside in Cardiff city centre
Pub goers were spotted in hoodies and raincoats while eating outside in Cardiff city centre today
The mercury dropped below freezing to -5.9C in Kinbrace in the Scottish Highlands this morning, making today exactly as cold as it was in 2012 – the coldest May bank holiday on record. According to the Met Office temperatures at this time of year should range between 13C and 16C.
Snowfall, heavy rain and 50mph gales are expected to hit later today with road, rail and ferry journeys potentially all being affected.
But brave swimmers were seen throwing caution to the wind as they donned woolly hats and gloves while taking a dip in the sea at Langland Bay, Swansea. And cheery punters were seen on boats under blankets on the River Cam in Cambridge while trying to make the most of the final day of the May bank holiday.
It ends a miserable bank holiday weekend for many, with revellers forced to brave downpours on Saturday and Sunday as they flooded back to pub beer gardens to make the most of the easing of Covid restrictions.
Yesterday a group of hardy pub goers were spotted an outdoor pint in the pouring rain outside The Cranberry Farm pub, in Exeter, Devon, while others were seen holding blankets over their heads while sitting outside at a bar in Wallingford, Oxfordshire.
Plummeting temperatures also saw a freak hail storm hit the Isle of Wight, leaving left fields looking more like a winter wonderland.
Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said today: ‘There’s quite a deep area of low pressure coming in from the West on Monday. It’s pretty windy with some gales in exposed areas in the West’s coast and hills.
‘Obviously with lockdown restrictions coming down now there could be more people out and about so the impact could be higher than normal but certainly a very wet and windy day moving in from the West on Monday.’
Diners battle through the rain as they sit outside to enjoy a meal in Manchester today
People are spotted with raincoats and umbrellas making the most of Bank Holiday Monday in Manchester
People watch on as the water breaks against the seafront in Porthcawl, Wales, on Bank Holiday Monday
A family was spotted having a coffee in very cold but sunny bank holiday in Montaque Place in West Sussex
Diners were seen in raincoats outside a restaurant in Worthing, West Sussex this morning
One brave swimmer was spotted taking a dip in the sea in Bournemouth this morning during the chilly temperatures
Punters wrapped up warm at restaurants along the beach in Bournemouth
Diners were seen in raincoats and jumpers to keep the chill off them while eating outside today in Bournemouth
One swimmer was spotted in just a swimming costume as she braved the chilly temperatures of the Bournemouth sea
Pictured: Sunrise by the Ribblehead viaduct in Cumbria on Bank Holiday Monday before the forecast rain arrives
A group of hardy pub goers enjoy an outdoor pint in the pouring rain outside The Cranberry Farm pub, in Exeter, Devon
Rain will set in over Northern Ireland and spread across the entirety of the UK by this afternoon. The Met Office has predicted the rain will become heavier throughout the day and some snow will be seen on Scottish mountains.
Coastal gales are forecast for the south and western areas of the country but the rain should start to clear by the evening.
And the mercury isn’t set to rise any time soon as tomorrow is set to be an unsettled and chilly day with a fair amount of cloud and showers or longer spells of rain.
The rest of the week will stay much the same with wintry showers and rain across the country and widespread overnight frosts.
Temperatures will remain low for this time of year with lows of -4C, lower than the temperature in Russia, and forecasts of torrential rain and storms to start today.
Freezing temperatures forced winemakers to burn huge paraffin candles by their vineyards to stop grapes from icing over.
Freezing temperatures over the Bank Holiday weekend have forced winemakers to burn huge paraffin candles by their vineyards to stop grapes from icing over
Vitaculturists at The Grange Hampshire vineyard lit their candles, known as bougies, in the early hours of yesterday morning during a period of frost
An extraordinary freak hail storm hit the Isle of Wight and covered the fields and streets in Newchurch turning the landscape into a winter wonderland
Vitaculturists at The Grange Hampshire vineyard lit their candles, known as bougies, in the early hours of yesterday morning during a period of frost.
A team of 10 local lighters were given an emergency alert at 2am in the morning and it took them about an hour and a half to light the 450 candles.
Once the sun comes up and the temperature reaches above freezing a different team will come and extinguish the candles.
And hail battered the Isle of Wight on Saturday leaving the Newchurch area looking like it was in the depths of winter and covered in snow.
Jamie Russell, of the Isle of Wight Met Service, said: ‘It was amazing. I couldn’t believe it. I was on the southern side of a big rapeseed field near Shanklin when I noticed something slightly unusual happening in the general direction of Newchurch and headed over there.’
Jamie Russell, of the Isle of Wight Met Service, said: ‘It was amazing. I couldn’t believe it. I was on the southern side of a big rapeseed field near Shanklin when I noticed something slightly unusual happening in the general direction of Newchurch and headed over there’
Families and visitors wearing waterproof jackets and carrying umbrellas brave the rain and flock to the at the seaside resort of Lyme Regis in Dorset
Visitors to Lyme Regis hold umbrellas as they flock to the beach
Pictured: A freak hailstorm has left the Newchurch area of the Isle of Wight looking like it is in the depths of winter
Hail froze to the roads and grass, looking like snow was covering the Isle of Wight this weekend
And across the rest of the country punters were forced to huddle under blankets and coats while dining with friends and family outside amid the torrential rain yesterday.
In Wallingford, Oxfordshire, diners braved the conditions despite the rain lashing their umbrellas during a very wet al fresco lunch.
Zam Baring, CEO, The Grange Hampshire Wine said: ‘Frosty nights are all about horrible judgement calls. How cold is it going to be getting two or three hours’ time? How much damage will be done to the buds if we don’t light the candles?
‘And, if we do light the candles tonight, will we have enough left for what is coming down the line tomorrow night, the night after or even next week? It is undeniably a beautiful sight, but it’s a terrible sight too!
‘There were very bad frosts last year in 2020 during the second week of May and, despite working hard to counteract the cold, The Grange Hampshire suffered a more than 60 per cent reduction in yield over the previous year. We use around 1,500 candles each year.’
Punters huddled under blankets and coats in the wet weather with diners still forced to remain outside due to Covid restrictions
The weather proved no obstacle to some who sat outside Britain’s pubs and restaurants on Saturday amid the pouring rain
Diners in the Oxfordshire town of Wallingford brave the pouring rain for the chance to be together and to eat outdoors on Saturday
The cold temperatures follow the coldest April on record with the lowest average minimum temperatures for April in the UK since 1922.
The yellow weather warnings will see some delays to road, rail air and ferry transport. The Met Office has said that some bus and train services will probably be affected.
And damage to outdoor temporary structures is possible with some tree branches down too.
It’s likely that some coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities will be affected by spray and/or large waves.