Hopes for a sunny bank holiday are set to be washed out as a wave of heavy barrels towards Britain this week. After basking in the sunniest April on record and enjoying a bright start to May, spring is about to take a soggy turn, forecasters say.

Advanced modelling maps by WXCharts show a massive Atlantic weather front moving in early Saturday, bringing relentless downpours that could dampen plans right through the weekend. Several major cities are set to be in the path of the upcoming deluge, including , Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, and the Scottish Highlands.

It comes as the warned in its long-range forecast for the period: "As we head into the bank holiday weekend and following week, a change in weather type is expected as unsettled conditions develop, with weather systems moving in from the Atlantic. The change is likely to overspread most areas through Saturday, with many seeing spells of rain and low cloud, and it will feel humid.

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"This will herald a changeable spell as further systems come east. Drier and brighter intervals are likely between systems but with showers, some of which could be heavy/thundery. The wettest weather will tend to be toward the west."

The Met Office's Deputy Chief Meteorologist Mark Sidaway added that the country should brace itself for "unsettled conditions."

He said: "The high pressure that has been around for the last few weeks will slowly lose its grip on the UK this week, bringing a change to more unsettled conditions with many areas seeing rain or showers, ending the prolonged dry spell.

"The change comes this weekend, with weather systems moving in from the Atlantic, arriving from the west probably later on Friday and through Saturday. They will bring with them spells of rain, which may be heavy at times, with a risk of strong winds in places.

"These conditions will gradually spread across the UK on Saturday, with Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday likely seeing sunshine and showers.

"So, whilst the bank holiday won't be a complete washout, with some sunshine expected, this weekend represents a notable shift from the fine and settled weather pattern that has dominated so far this month."

According to WXCharts' data, rain will fall across much of the UK on Saturday, as the first part of the weather front passes from west to east. On Sunday, showers will become more scattered, before returning in heavier, larger patches the following day.