Outdoor pints risk freezing as 15m drivers fill roads over Bank Holiday weekend

Outdoor pints risk freezing as Brits face the coldest start to May on record.

It will be colder than Russia as temperatures are set to drop to -6C in some areas, with an 800-mile wide 60mph storm sweeping across the country.

Meanwhile 15 million drivers set to clog up the roads over the Bank Holiday weekend, the Mail Online reports.

RAC research predicted major delays and the highest number of road trips since 2016 between Friday and Monday.

Polar air and scattered snow flurries are forecast in Wales, Scotland, and possibly northern England, with hail in the South.

The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: “Nights could reach -6C locally in Scotland and -4C in England.”

Meanwhile, St Petersburg is due -1C lows.

The coldest early May Bank Holiday temperature recorded since the holiday began 43 years ago in 1978 is -5.9C on May 7, 2012, at Kinbrace, Sutherland, Scotland, Met Office records show.

Met Office forecaster Alex Deakin said: “It will be a chilly Bank Holiday weekend. Monday looks disappointing, with unusually windy weather and rain sweeping across the country.”

And MeteoGroup DTN forecaster Eleanor Tracey said: “-4C could be seen in England, including the South locally, and Scotland. Snow flurries could fall in Wales, Scotland and possibly on northern England’s Pennines.

“Low pressure arrives on Monday morning and will bring rain, with gusts up to 60mph in the South-West, 50mph in the South-East and 45 mph in the North.”

An RAC survey of 1,000 drivers suggested an estimated 62 per cent more leisure trips are planned this coming bank holiday weekend than four weeks ago.

The figures indicated Saturday will be the busiest day of the weekend with the equivalent of 2.6million journeys planned, followed by Friday with 2.3million and bank holiday Monday with 2million.

But an additional 6.2million trips are due to be taken at some point over the weekend by drivers who aren’t sure which day they will be on the road – suggesting many might be waiting to find out exactly what the weather has in store.

RAC traffic spokesman Rod Dennis said: “After what was one of the quietest Easters on the roads in years our figures suggest the easing of Covid restrictions has made a dramatic difference with millions more drivers planning to hit the roads.

“It remains to be seen what effect the weather will have as meeting up in soggy parks and gardens may not prove quite so appealing. And if it’s too cold for a trip to the beach, then there could be a big uplift in visits to shops, cafes and restaurants with covered outdoor areas.

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“Nonetheless, the prospect of queues on the roads – particularly leading to major shopping centres – looks far more likely this coming weekend, and we’d advise drivers to plan ahead and keep tuned to local traffic bulletins to find out if there’s any disruption.”