Overview

• The UK experienced its hottest start to May on record with 29.3°C at Kew Gardens, but temperatures are now forecast to drop by up to 10°C over the bank holiday weekend.
• In the US, Northeast Ohio faces a slight risk of severe weather with damaging winds, while Chicago experiences on-and-off downpours without severe conditions expected.
• New England and Long Island are bracing for extended periods of rain, with New England's longer-term forecast complicated by conflicting weather models.
• The UK and parts of the US are seeing drastic weather shifts, described as 'weather whiplash,' with rapid transitions from unseasonable warmth to cooler, unsettled conditions.
• Meteorologists attribute these volatile spring patterns to climate change trends, which are increasing the frequency of extreme temperature events.