Essex weather: Met Office predicting weekend thunder

Daytrippers are expected to flock to the county's beaches and beauty spots to enjoy a long bank holiday weekend.

However, forecasters at the Met Office are predicting thunder and lightning will hit parts of the area today, putting a damper on these plans.

READ MORE >>> Met Office warn UK to see final hot weather of the year this week

To help you with your bank holiday weekend plans, here is the day-by-day weather forecast for each south Essex area:

Southend 

Saturday

Sunny changing to cloudy by lunchtime with temperatures to reach 20C.

There is a chance thunder and lightning will hit the city from 3pm to 5pm today - with a 60 per cent chance of rain during this period.

Sunday

Sunny changing to cloudy by lunchtime again. Highs of 20C and lows of 13C.

Thankfully, no rainfall is predicted.

Monday

The bank holiday will be a bit sunnier and warmer, with temperatures set to reach 21C. This will change to cloudy in the afternoon

Basildon

Saturday

Sunny changing to light showers by lunchtime with highs of 20C and lows of 12C.

Thunderstorms are expected from 3pm to 7pm.

Sunday

Sunny changing to cloudy by lunchtime as temperatures reach 21C. There is a 30 per cent chance of rain at 1pm which should clear by 4pm.

Monday

Sunny day with temperatures hitting 21C.

Rochford

Saturday

Sunny changing to light showers by lunchtime as temperatures hit 21C again.Thunder and lightning is expected to hit the area at 2am and 4am, before returning in the early evening from 4pm to 5pm, and again at 7pm and 9pm.

Sunday

Sunny changing to cloudy by lunchtime. Highs of 21C and lows of 13C.

Monday

The bank holiday will be sunny for Rochford, changing to partly cloudy by nighttime. Temperatures will reach 21C again.

Castle Point

Saturday

Sunny changing to light rain by lunchtime which will stay in parts of the area until 7pm. Thunderstorms predicted to hit between 3pm and 5pm. Highs of 21C and lows of 13C. 

Sunday

Sunny intervals with no rainfall expected. Temperatures will reach 21C again.

Monday

The bank holiday will be sunny and warm, with temperatures set to reach 21C. 

What Met Office says to expect this weekend

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Steven Keates said: “While showers are never too far away through the weekend, there will still be drier spells around and where there are breaks in the cloud on Sunday in the south it should feel quite pleasant.

“Areas to the southeast will see fewer showers with more in the way of bright or sunny spells on Saturday and Sunday, though temperatures are likely to remain around average for the time of year. Areas further north and west will see more frequent showers, some of which will be heavy, and will at times extend south into central areas of England and Wales on Saturday and Sunday.”

“Monday, which is a Bank Holiday for those in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, will probably see band of showery rain clear from eastern England early in the day, with sunny spells and scattered showers following on for most places. There are no signals for significant heat in the current forecast period.”