A surge in car journeys is anticipated for the upcoming bank holiday weekend as the UK braces for potentially record-breaking May temperatures. The warm weather forecast is expected to drive around 23 million car trips starting from Friday, especially towards coastal areas and popular tourist destinations. Families are gearing up for the half-term school break, with airports also preparing for an influx of travelers heading overseas.
Following a cool start to May, temperatures are set to climb above 30°C in some regions, signaling the onset of a heatwave in parts of the UK. The Met Office’s deputy chief forecaster, Greg Wolverson, highlighted that high pressure systems will dominate the weather over the holiday weekend, ensuring clear and settled conditions in most areas. Any temperature surpassing 29.4°C would mark the highest May temperature recorded in the UK since 2012, with the all-time monthly record standing at 32.8°C.
The AA predicts Friday to be the busiest day for travel, with an estimated 23.4 million journeys expected, followed by 22.8 million on Saturday, and 22.4 million on both Sunday and the bank holiday Monday. Most trips are anticipated to be short-distance, with a significant portion of drivers planning daily excursions within a 50-mile radius for purposes such as shopping, visiting family or friends, DIY projects, or work-related travel.
Concerns about rising fuel costs are on the rise, with 28% of drivers expressing worries over the escalating prices. The average petrol price across the UK currently stands at 158.52p per liter, the highest since December 2022, while diesel is priced at 185.92p per liter. This translates to £87 to fill up a typical family car with petrol, an increase of £14 compared to last year, and over £102 for diesel, up by £26 from the previous year.
Lee Morley, an AA expert patrol, emphasized that the warm weather forecast tends to spur last-minute travel plans and outings. As good weather typically encourages spontaneous trips, drivers should anticipate heavy traffic on popular routes over the weekend. Additionally, Sunday is expected to see increased traffic due to the final round of Premier League matches, likely causing congestion around stadiums, city centers, and major travel routes.
Key travel hotspots include routes leading to the South West and Cornwall, the M4 from London towards Wales, the M6 towards Blackpool and the North West coastline, as well as roads connecting popular seaside towns, national parks, ports, and airports. While Network Rail assures that the majority of train routes will remain operational, planned engineering works may disrupt some journeys, including certain routes affected by maintenance projects.