Maps show where in the UK will be warmest on May bank holiday weekend

Britain is set for a mild but unsettled bank holiday weekend, with the warmer weather experienced this week dipping to lower temperatures.

Wednesday was the warmest day of the year so far, as temperatures reached a peak of 22.1C in Santon Downham in Suffolk. Meanwhile, the temperature in Scotland reached 21.9C in Aultbea in the north-west Highlands. Thursday’s temperatures could eclipse those, following early morning thunderstorms that prompted the Met Office to issue yellow weather warnings in the south.

As millions of Britons get ready to take to the roads for the early May getaway, the Met Office are forecasting a “very mixed picture“. Most areas of the country are likely to experience some rain but temperatures will remain fairly warm, in the mid to late teens. There are likely to be showers across the country on Monday.

In any drier and brighter interludes it will feel warm away from the east coast.

Marco Petagna, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “After a night of storms, the rain will ease in the south of England for a while... We could see the skies brightening up in a few places and it will be another warm day. Parts of the South East could even get to 24 degrees and beat today’s temperatures.

“But as the skies brighten and temperatures increase, this could spark a few more thundery showers in the afternoon, so it is likely to still be a bit unsettled and the forecast will be changeable over the next few days.”

• Read more: Met Office responds to reports of upcoming UK 'heatwave' (Yahoo News UK)

Yahoo breaks down what the weather will be like for each region of the UK, according to the Met Office.

London and the South East

• Thursday

Rather cloudy across the south with outbreaks of rain and showers, heavy at times with a risk of further thunderstorms overnight. Spells of warm sunshine for northern parts. Light winds. Maximum temperature 18C.

• Friday to Sunday

Unsettled Friday with spells of heavy rain and thundery showers. Rain clearing northwards later leaving bright spells. Drier and brighter Saturday. Largely cloudy overnight and Sunday with showers or rain.

South West

• Thursday

An overcast start, with further outbreaks of rain, thundery at first, slowly easing. Turning brighter and drier across parts of Devon and Cornwall during the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14C.

• Friday to Sunday

Largely cloudy on Friday with outbreaks of rain. Remaining unsettled into the weekend with showers or longer spells of rain. Feeling warm, particularly in any sunny spells.

Midlands

• Thursday

Mist and fog will clear by mid-morning with cloud retreating towards coasts. Becoming brighter, with warm, sunny spells inland. Feeling cooler along the coast. Cloud and fog returning overnight. Maximum temperature 18C.

• Friday to Sunday

Unsettled Friday with spells of heavy rain and showers, possibly thundery. Rain easing and clearing northwards overnight. Drier and brighter Saturday. Variable cloud Sunday with showers. Cooler along coasts.

North East

• Thursday

Mist and fog will slowly lift and break, with cloud retreating towards the coast allowing some bright or sunny spells to develop inland. Cooler and cloudier along the coast throughout. Maximum temperature 14C.

• Friday to Sunday

Cloudy Friday with heavy, possibly thundery, showers at times. Rain and drizzle will likely push north later Friday, slowly clearing through Saturday. Variable cloud and showers Sunday. Temperatures near normal.

North West

• Thursday

Low cloud in the east, lifting and breaking, leading to lengthy sunny spells for most. Feeling warm in the sunshine, particularly in the west. Maximum temperature 20C.

• Friday to Sunday

Cloudier on Friday with outbreaks of rain. Remaining unsettled into the weekend with showers or longer spells of rain. Feeling warm, particularly in any sunny spells.

Scotland

• Thursday

Low cloud could be extensive at times with a little drizzle in places. Light or moderate easterly winds. Some sunny spells. Maximum temperature 21C.

• Friday to Sunday

The southeasterly flow will bring low cloud and haar, extensive at times towards the North Sea coast. Often burning back during the day with sunny spells. Occasional showers possible.

Northern Ireland

• Thursday

Any low cloud and mist clearing during the morning with some warm spells of sunshine developing. Breezy at times around the coast. Maximum temperature 20C.

• Friday to Sunday

Mainly dry and bright on Friday with some warm sunshine. Outbreaks of rain early Saturday, drier and brighter later. Bright spells and showers on Sunday.

Wales

• Thursday

Outbreaks of rain, thundery at first across south Wales, before easing during Thursday. Elsewhere mostly cloudy perhaps with some brighter spells developing across Gwynedd and Conwy later. Maximum temperature 18C.

• Friday to Sunday

Largely cloudy on Friday with outbreaks of rain. Remaining unsettled into the weekend with showers or longer spells of rain. Feeling warm, particularly in any sunny spells.