'Mac and Flip Flops' Weather For Weekend

By Sky News SkyNews - Thursday, May 1 11:31 pm

Forecasters are predicting a hot and sunny bank holiday weekend, but warn that scattered showers could put a sudden dampener on May Day celebrations.

Temperatures could hit highs of 23C in the sunshine in parts of the country on Sunday and Monday, bringing some much-needed warmth after a cold Easter.

"It's certainly set to heat up," said Sky News weather presenter Isobel Lang.

"But don't get too excited - there'll be rain around.

"It will be flip flop weather when the sun comes out - but you might want to keep that mac handy too."

South-eastern areas will see the best of the weather on Saturday and Sunday - but on Monday the sun is set to switch to the west of the country, leaving the East overcast.

The May Day celebration traditionally marks the beginning of summer in Britain - but organisers of the numerous events that take place over the bank holiday weekend are not holding their breath.

"It has been foul on the bank holiday Monday for the past few years and it does really dampen things, said Keith Leech, chairman of the age-old Jack-in-the-Green festival in Hastings, East Sussex.

The 'Jack' - a foliage-covered figure with a green mask - is carried through the streets to Hastings Castle, where he is symbolically slain to mark the end of winter.

"We have even changed the mask of the Jack-in-the-Green in case for some reason it has brought bad weather," Mr Leech told Sky News Online.

Meanwhile the Morris dancers, who are a quintessential part of the May Day celebrations, remain stoic in the face of a mixed forecast.

"It would have to be very inclement indeed to stop our tradition," said Trefor Owen, president of The Morris Federation.

"Cromwell tried to ban it and look what happened to him, the Licensing Act 2003 tried to curtail it, we fought that and won an exemption, so a bit of weather stopping the Dance... no chance!"

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