The Poor Easter Weather Follows An Unusually Warm And Dry Spring So Far

Britain's Easter weekend looks set to end in a washout with strong winds and rain expected to lash most parts of the country over the coming days, according to forecasters.

Up to an inch of rain could fall in England and Wales tomorrow as millions return home from the long weekend, weather experts predict.

The sunshine and record-breaking heatwave which graced March will also seem in the distant past with widespread cloud, drizzle and winds of up to 45mph forecast on Easter Monday.

Billy Payne, forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "It is going to be unsettled over the coming days.

"Today will be generally cloudy across the country with the risk of patchy, light rain and drizzle in many places. During the afternoon heavier bursts of rain will be coming into western Scotland and Northern Ireland."

He added: "Tomorrow will be very unsettled with a waving front moving across the country and up to an inch of rain could fall in parts of England and Wales with western areas experiencing the heaviest falls.

"It will be cloudy and raining in most parts for the majority of the day and there will also be strong winds of up to 45mph in areas of south-west England and South Wales - not a great way to end the bank holiday weekend."

The dank weather will continue into Tuesday and Wednesday with some rumbles of thunder expected.

A Met Office forecaster said: "Today will be rather cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle at first, particularly across south-east England and some western areas.

"Heavier rain will reach north-west UK later and spread south-east this evening.

"England and Wales will be wet with outbreaks of rain tomorrow which will be heavy and persistent on western hills and more generally later. It will also be windy in the south."

Temperatures are expected to be average for the time of year.