Brits are set for a real drenching just as the school holidays commence. New maps reveal that is set to return to the UK next week, with wet conditions sweeping from the far south as Plymouth to as far north as Wick in Scotland.

The timing coincides with the start of the May half-term holidays for many schools and, as the weekend begins, travel disruption and soggy staycations could be on the cards for many. According to the latest data from WX Charts, rainfall is expected to intensify on Saturday, May 24, with up to 3mm predicted around 1pm across parts of the Midlands, particularly between Manchester and Birmingham, including Stoke-on-Trent and Derby.

The worst-affected areas on Saturday include the west coast of the Scottish Highlands, parts of Manchester, Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent, and Devon, including Exeter. Coastal regions like County Down in Northern Ireland and areas near Cardiff in Wales are also expected to see significant rainfall.

Temperatures are also expected to dip on Friday morning - May 23 - with lows of 0C forecast in the Scottish Highlands and around 2C in southern areas such as Kent, London, and around Leeds.

Motorists and holidaymakers should check forecasts and prepare for unsettled weather conditions.

The 's long range weather forecast from May 23 to June 1 reads: "As we head into the bank holiday weekend and following week, a change in weather type is expected. More unsettled conditions are likely to develop, with weather systems moving in from the Atlantic.

"The change is likely to happen first in the northwest, probably later on Friday or through Saturday. This will see frontal systems bringing spells of rain, perhaps heavy at times, with a risk of strong winds in places, and these conditions will gradually spread across the UK as we go through the weekend.

"Drier and brighter intervals are likely between systems but with showers, some of which could be heavy/thundery."

However the weather news is not all grim according to the national forecaster, with predictions that temperatures could be above average for that time of year.

It added: "Temperatures will probably be close to average, perhaps slightly above at times, but will feel fairly cool in the often strong winds."