Region is set to bask in sunshine

Thursday 21st May 2009, 10:57AM BST.

Shropshire and Mid Wales are finally due to see the arrival of summer over the bank holiday weekend after the coldest and wettest May for 10 years.

The big getaway tomorrow afternoon is due to cause major disruption – with the AA warning there will be a third more traffic than normal on the roads.

Temperatures could reach 22C (72F) on Monday and the sun will be shining after patchy rain on Friday night and early on Saturday, said Shropshire Star weatherman John Warner.

“There is quite a lot of warm air over Europe and a change in wind direction is bringing it our way,” he said.

“So far this May, we have had only half the expected sunshine and been well below the usual monthly average of 16C (61F) – the worst for 10 years.”

In the longer term, however, the Met Office was predicting a hot summer.

Temperatures in Shropshire are due to reach 18C (64F) tomorrow, rising to 20C (68F) on Saturday, 21C (70F) on Sunday and 22C (72F) on Monday. It is likely to be a degree warmer in the south east of England.

PA MeteoGroup forecaster Rob Hutchinson said: “The weather is really looking quite nice for southern England over the holiday, with quite a lot of sunshine.”

* The RAC is paying for 3,000 motorists to go on the M6 Toll road near Birmingham over the weekend.

The lucky drivers will be selected at random by toll staff and will have their toll fee paid for.

View more: Shropshire news, Weather news.