Forecasters have issued several yellow warnings for heavy rainfall over the coming days, with flooding possible across swathes of Britain.

The glorious Bank Holiday weekend weather is set to be replaced by periods of rain, wind and even hail storms at times, the Met Office said.

Forecaster Oli Claydon told The Independent parts of the north and west of the UK would see windy and wetter conditions over the next 48 hours.

“We have got some periods of prolonged showers and persistent rain in the north and the west, especially on the coast of Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is also quite breezy up there,” he said.

From Friday lunchtime to Saturday afternoon, two yellow warnings have been issued, for most of Northern Ireland and a large swathe of western Scotland, he added.

The warnings caution locals to expect heavy rainfall which is likely to cause “flooding of a few homes and businesses”.

The unseasonable storms will also affect transport links, with bus and train services slowed down and spray on motorways also hindering traffic.

A band of rain will move across the UK from the west, Mr Claydon said, but in the south and east the weather will be drier and brighter.

Temperatures could even reach as high as 25C in the best spots but by the weekend it will have taken a turn for the worse.

“There will then be a band of rain with a cold front which will cover the UK from north to south. It will bring rainfall through the day and on Saturday at various times.”

By Sunday there will continue to be scattered showers and even hailstorms at times, Mr Claydon added.

“The unsettled nature of the weather looks to continue in the beginning of next week.”