Spain and Portugal set for rain-soaked Easter in blow to British holidaymakers

Holidaymakers hoping to hop over to Europe for the Easter break face the prospect of a washout as forecasters warn some tourist hotspots are set for stormy weather.

School holidays and a four-day weekend offer the chance for many in the UK to escape for a few days sun, sea and sand.

But popular places such as Spain and Portugal may not offer the usual warm, sunny destination as they are in line for thunderstorms and strong winds this Easter period.

Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said: “There is a an active jet stream that is going to dip down to the south of us and bring some unsettled weather to Iberia this week.”

A tweet from the Met Office revealed a little more detail on what is to come for those heading to Spain and Portugal.

It read: “Off on a European holiday soon?

“Similarly to the UK, the weather across Europe is rather unsettled, especially in Iberia where thunderstorms and strong winds are expected at times this week.”

Temperatures in Malaga in southern Spain are forecast to hit a high of just 16°C on Easter Saturday, with sunshine and showers throughout the day. Similar conditions are on the cards for Easter with a maximum temperature of 17°C, according to the Met Office.

While on the southern coast of Portugal, the resort of Albufeira will be slightly cooler with a maximum temperature of 15°C for Easter Saturday and Sunday. And like neighbouring Spain, there will be a mix of sunshine and showers for both days.

In land, Spain’s capital Madrid will reach a high of 11°C on both Saturday and Sunday with a mix of sun and showery weather. Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, will have a maximum temperature of 14°C at the weekend and similar unsettled weather conditions.

However, there is some good news for sunseekers heading to Europe.

Those heading further east across the Mediterranean to Italy and Greece can expect sunnier climes.

The Met Office said: “The eastern Mediterranean will see the driest and warmest weather over Easter”.

Athens will be a 23°C and sunny over the Easter weekend while Venice has highs of 18°C and dry, sunny conditions.

For those planning a staycation, there is a week of “messy weather ” ahead for the UK.

Alex Burkill, from the Met Office, said: “For the UK, it’s going to feel like we are stuck in a bit of a washing machine.”

Unsettled conditions are the main theme of the forecast throughout the week, with low pressure bringing periods of rain from the West, some of which could be heavy.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Helen Caughey warned it will be “another very unsettled week for much of the UK” with heavy, blustery showers, longer spells of rain and also some strong winds.

She added: “Showers will continue into the weekend, especially for southern and western areas.

“However, it is likely that we will see something of an improvement for most areas, with showers tending to become less frequent, and a better chance of longer spells of sunshine for eastern and northern areas in particular.

“It will also become less windy, and temperatures should start to trend upwards, feeling quite warm in any sunshine.”

But the improvement will not be long-lasting as the unsettled conditions are forecast to return around Easter Monday.

According to the Met Office forecast, Good Friday is likely to be a day of blustery showers for many, more frequent in the South and West.

Saturday will see a continuation of the showery theme in southern and western areas, although there is an increasing chance of brighter spells further North and East. While Sunday looks to be the best day of the week before conditions return to unsettled from the South later on Sunday and into Monday.

And if the forecast does not deter the most determined daytrippers, the threat of travel chaos may.

Drivers are being warned of long tailbacks as more than 14 million trips are expected to take place across the UK over the Easter weekend.

The RAC has said journeys on some popular routes could take twice as long as normal, as the bank holiday weekend coincides with the start of a two-week holiday for many schools.

On the trains, Network Rail will be carrying out engineering work, with the southern section of the West Coast Main Line closed between Good Friday and Easter Monday.

And the main line between London Euston and Milton Keynes will be shut for four days from Good Friday.