Spring will make a welcome return for today’s Bank Holiday – especially in the north.
Temperatures will be back to around 17C after the recent cool, rainy spell, said weather experts.
Luke Miall, of the Met Office , said: “It’s a mixed bag for May Day with huge variations. The north of England will experience drier and brighter weather.”
But southern England and Wales will see rain and there may be some heavy showers in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.
The took a turn for the better yesterday and could reach 21C by the end of the week.
Exacta forecaster James Madden said: “A change is ahead with more in the way of higher temperatures and drier weather.”
The mixed bag of weather will start to settle down from tomorrow and will welcome much more settled conditions throughout the country.
Weather Channel spokeswoman Charlotte Smith added: “Spring-like weather is on course to make a return [this] week as the country makes way for mild, settled weather.
“Long-range forecasts after the Bank Holiday weekend reveal UK weather is set to warm up, with the mercury expected to hit temperatures around average for early May.”
James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, said the mercury could reach a balmy 21C (70F) at times this week.
He said: “Despite what is likely to be a mixed Bank Holiday Monday for many a change is ahead throughout the week with more in the way of higher temperatures and drier weather.
“This will bring some decent spells of sunshine in places despite some variable cloud cover particularly in coastal areas.
“Maximum temperatures will approach the high teens at the very least, even 21C (69.8F) could be achieved in the best of the sunshine.”
More than 10 million car journeys were made during the weekend with an estimated 3.4 million occurring today as people make their way home after the weekend.
RAC traffic spokesman Rod Dennis said: “With Easter just a fortnight ago, for many people the May Day bank holiday may have come as something of a pleasant surprise.
“Certainly our figures show that many of us will be packing the car up to enjoy a trip to see friends or family, with the vast majority of leisure journeys expected on Bank Holiday Monday itself – which suggests day trips and drivers returning after a short break will be responsible for much of the traffic.
“We strongly recommend anyone travelling a fair distance gives their car a quick once over before setting out – check your car’s coolant and oil levels, the state of its tyres and make sure you have topped up with washer fluid.
“All of these things can dramatically cut the chances of a breakdown at the side of the road.
“If you are towing for the first time this year, pay particular attention to the condition of your caravan or trailer’s tyres which may have deteriorated throughout the winter.”