Bank holiday weekend is due to be a cold and miserable affair
Sub-zero temperatures and even some snow are set to keep holidaymakers at home over the long weekend.
Though there may be light relief from rain, the mercury could plummet to -3C in Scotland, as Britain braces itself for brisk bank holiday.
Meanwhile the south coast of England will remain under clouds and temperatures will struggling to reach 10C even in the south of England said forecasters.
The dismal outlook for the long weekend follows weeks of wet weather that brought floods in some areas. It follows predictions made in April that May was to be the "coldest for 100 years."
MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, predicted a chilly holiday.
Forecaster Tom Tobler said: "It doesn't look like it's going to be beach weather.
"We're looking at some wintry showers in the North over high ground and there may be snowfall. Temperatures will be dipping on Saturday night to close to, or just below, zero in parts of the Midlands and Wales.
"It's going to be quite cold."
Temperatures on Saturday and Sunday are expected to climb no higher than 11C, with the brightest outlook in the South and South West, he said.
And Monday is expected to fare no better, with low pressure forecast to bring rain from the West.
The South West in particular could see heavy downpours, it was predicted and more than 20 flood warnings remained in place on the Environment Agency website.
However the AA offered good news, saying that roads could be clearer than usual.
An AA spokesman said: "We don't think there will be significant getaways of traffic. A lot of people will be staying at home and doing their own thing.
"The weather's been so foul over the last month, I doubt many people have made plans to head off.
"It discourages people from going out and if people are staying at home it's going to be more of a DIY weekend than a travelling to the seaside one. People aren't going to be travelling long distances."
But local delays could be seen where events are being held, with the FA Cup Final at London's Wembley Stadium among the big draws, the spokesman added.
Tourist resorts meanwhile said they did not have high hopes for takings over the weekend.
Claire Smith, president of Stay Blackpool, said: "It's not looking like a fab Bank Holiday. People only have so much money to spend and it's not that long since Easter, which was absolutely brilliant. I also think people are making plans for the Jubilee weekend.
"The weather's very random at the moment so this is perhaps not going to be our best."
Despite the heavy rain recently, swathes of England are still in a state of drought, with warnings that the downpours were not enough to counteract the effects of two unusually dry winters.
Dramatic flooding pictures taken around Britain this week show the heavy rainfall experienced around the country.
Has the weather wreaked havoc where you live? Email your pictures to ukpicturedesk@teamaol.com and we’ll credit you.
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Spring weather May 1st
A team from Gloucester Fire and Rescue service scout the flooded areas of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire after heavy overnight rainfall.
Spring weather May 1st
A team from Gloucester Fire and Rescue service scout the flooded areas of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire after heavy overnight rainfall.
Spring weather May 1st
A member of a team from Gloucester Fire and Rescue service looks for hidden obstructions before launching a boat scout the flooded areas of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire after heavy overnight rainfall.
Spring weather May 1st
A team from Gloucester Fire and Rescue service scout the flooded areas of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire after heavy overnight rainfall.
Spring weather May 1st
Swans swim past signs for riverside walks along the River Severn in Worcester, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.
Water Levels Rise As Tewkesbury Braces Itself For Flooding
TEWKESBURY, ENGLAND - MAY 01: A car drives through flood water in Tewkesbury on May 1, 2012 in Tewkesbury, England. After the wettest April in 100 years, thousands of homes, particularly in the south west of England, faced a renewed risk of flooding after heavy rain fell overnight and many rivers remained on flood alerts. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Water Levels Rise As Tewkesbury Braces Itself For Flooding
TEWKESBURY, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Cars drive though spray on the M5 motorway on May 1, 2012 near Tewkesbury, England. After the wettest April in 100 years, thousands of homes, particularly in the south west of England, faced a renewed risk of flooding after heavy rain fell overnight and many rivers remained on flood alerts. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Water Levels Rise As Tewkesbury Braces Itself For Flooding
TEWKESBURY, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Flood waters gather on land close to Tewkesbury Abbey on May 1, 2012 in Tewkesbury, England. After the wettest April in 100 years, thousands of homes, particularly in the south west of England, faced a renewed risk of flooding after heavy rain fell overnight and many rivers remained on flood alerts. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Water Levels Rise As Tewkesbury Braces Itself For Flooding
TEWKESBURY, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Flood water overflows from the rive in Tewkesbury on May 1, 2012 in Tewkesbury, England. After the wettest April in 100 years, thousands of homes, particularly in the south west of England, faced a renewed risk of flooding after heavy rain fell overnight and many rivers remained on flood alerts. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Water Levels Rise As Tewkesbury Braces Itself For Flooding
TEWKESBURY, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Flood water overflows from the river in Tewkesbury on May 1, 2012 in Tewkesbury, England. After the wettest April in 100 years, thousands of homes, particularly in the south west of England, faced a renewed risk of flooding after heavy rain fell overnight and many rivers remained on flood alerts. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Spring weather May 1st
A man hole cover is burst open by excess water in Witney, Oxfordshire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.
Spring weather May 1st
Tourists look for a way around the flooding in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.
Spring weather May 1st
A man hole cover is burst open by excess water in Witney, Oxfordshire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.
Spring weather May 1st
Flooding in a playground near Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.
Spring weather May 1st
Flooding in a playground near Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.
Spring weather May 1st
Flooding near Tewkesbury Abbey in Gloucestershire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.
Spring weather May 1st
People discuss the flooding in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.
Spring weather May 1st
A general view of standing water in fields near Glastonbury, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.
Spring weather May 1st
A general view of the River Brue, which is two foot above the level of the road and fields either side, as it winds it's way along the Somerset Levels and towards Glastonbury, where St Michael's Tower sits on Glastonbury Tor, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.
Spring weather May 1st
Swans swim past signs for riverside walks along the River Severn in Worcester, as parts of England and Wales are facing fresh flood fears after heavy rain lashed southern Britain overnight following the wettest April since records began.
Spring weather April 30th
Floodwaters rise around Tewkesbury Abbey, as much of England and Wales was braced for flooding today as further heavy rain continued to wreak havoc across the country.
Spring weather April 30th
Floodwaters rise around Mill Street, Tewkesbury, as much of England and Wales was braced for flooding today as further heavy rain continued to wreak havoc across the country.
Landrovers make a soggy trip in Essex
Collapsed scaffolding on a road in London
Life Aquatic in Essex
A tree lays waste to a car in Dulwich, south London
The Knavesmire and York racecourse is not fit for use
Walkies! A man and his dog paddle through a flooded village green in York
A lorry drives through Hodge Beck river in North Yorkshire
Soccer - Rangers Administration - Ibrox
Rangers manager Ally McCoist, arrives in heavy rain, to Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow as Rangers administrators warn attempts to rebuild the crisis club have been seriously undermined.
Rain continues
A man holds an umbrella in heavy rain in Dublin city centre.
Horse Racing - 2012 Punchestown Festival - thetote.com Punchestown Gold Cup Day - Punchestown Racecourse
Punters arrive in heavy rain for day two of the Punchestown Festival at Punchestown Racecourse, Naas.
Heavy rain across the UK
A van drives through a puddle near Epsom, Surrey, as wet weather continues across the UK.
Spring weather Apr 25
Shoppers use their umbrellas to shield from rain in Strafford upon Avon city centre.
Spring weather Apr 25
Heavy rain on the M20 in Ashford, Kent.
Spring weather Apr 25
Shoppers use their umbrellas to shield from rain in Strafford upon Avon city centre.
Spring weather Apr 25
Drops of rain fall in Ashford, Kent.
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge 1st wedding anniversary
File photo dated 04/07/11 ofof the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge sheltering from the rain under umbrellas at Dalvay by the Sea, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Spring weather April 30th
Floodwaters rise around Mill Street, Tewkesbury, as much of England and Wales was braced for flooding today as further heavy rain continued to wreak havoc across the country.
Spring weather April 30th
Floodwaters rise around Mill Street, Tewkesbury, as much of England and Wales was braced for flooding today as further heavy rain continued to wreak havoc across the country.
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PA/Huffington Post UK | Posted: 04/05/2012 11:56 Updated: 04/05/2012 12:01