MAY is not off to a good start as torrential rain and flooding wreaks havoc across North Wales.

The weather has certainly not been ideal for outdoor hospitality, so the re-opening of indoor dining is welcome news to many as businesses and venues can re-open their doors once again from today.

On Monday, Queensferry primary school had to be closed due to 'significant flooding' throughout the building.

Over the weekend, torrential rain wreaked havoc across Flintshire and Wrexham as people saw their gardens flooded and sandbags needed to be deployed.

Flooding in Hawarden. Image from Cllr Helen Brown

Flooding in Hawarden. Image from Cllr Helen Brown

In Shotton, houses on Shotton Lane had water in their properties.

Cllr Mike Evans said: "Shotton Lane was like a river flowing.

"Water was coming out of the manhole at the bottom of Wellington Street like a geyser and there was flooding on the main road by the bus stop and Killins Lane by the white bridge."

Community Councillors in Hawarden also had to assist residents due to flooding concerns.

Cllr Helen Brown said: "We set up a small emergency response team following the floods in February we we were able to bag sandbags up over the weekend and get them out."

Flooding in Hawarden. Image from Cllr Helen Brown

Flooding in Hawarden. Image from Cllr Helen Brown

It has been feeling more like winter than May with heavy downpours and cold temperatures - a stark difference compared to last year.

This time last year, when the UK was in the height of the pandemic, some areas saw temperatures rise to as high as 27C.

But having had to swap the ice cream and sunbeds to raincoats and wellies, summer seems a million miles away.

As coronavirus restrictions ease further, it is bad news as more rain showers are forecast for the week ahead, setting the scene for what could be one of the wettest Mays on record - Just in time for indoor hospitality to re-open!

By Friday, May 14 there had been 91 per cent of the expected rainfall for the entire month, with 63.5mm having fallen already.

The wettest May on record was in 1967, when 131.7mm of rain fell across the UK.

Met Office forecaster Steven Keates said even if the record is not broken, it will be a “notably wet month”.

He said: “If you were to extrapolate what we’ve had so far and say the second half of the month was similar to the first, then you would probably be challenging a record wet May.

“On the basis that a fair amount of rain is probably quite likely over the next couple of weeks, it’s probably going to be up there.”

But as we head towards the summer months, things may finally start to improve - there is hope for drier weather as spring comes to an end.

“There are hints, however, as we move towards the turn of the month into June of perhaps a bit of a dry trend,” said Mr Keates.

“So some tentative glimmers of light at the end of the tunnel.”

Here's what the Met Office has predicted for the week.

Today/tonight:

Showers rapidly form through the morning, these heavy at times and possibly thundery, with risk of hail. However, patchy cloud allows for some sunny spells throughout the day. Similar conditions to recently, slightly drier in the west of the country. Maximum temperature 15 °C.

Remaining showers will gradually ease through the evening, as they clear eastwards, giving way to a largely dry night. Cloud continues to break up, leaving some clear spells overnight. Minimum temperature 7 °C.

Tuesday:

Similar conditions to today, with sunny spells and scattered showers, these developing quickly through the morning, some possibly thundery. Showers then gradually easing through the evening leaving a dry night. Maximum temperature 14 °C.

Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:

Conditions easing on Wednesday, with showers becoming less intense and frequent. Turning windy on Thursday, but staying largely dry, with rain overnight. Blustery with showers and sunny spells on Friday.

Looking ahead to next week May 21 - May 30

Unsettled conditions continuing, with scattered showers again developing across most areas. These showers are likely to be heavy at times, with thunderstorms possible in places. On Friday and possibly into the weekend, more prolonged spells of rain are likely at times, especially in the west. Into next week, there is a chance of more settled conditions to gradually become established. Whilst further rain and showers are possible, overall drier and brighter conditions should become more dominant. Staying rather cool for the time of year, although night time frost will be limited, mainly across rural, northern areas. During next week, there are some indications that conditions may start to turn warmer, with temperatures closer to normal for the time of year.

Looking even further to the start of June

Confidence is low for this period, which is usual during spring and early summer. It is likely for conditions to remain changeable with showers at first, but probably also more settled at times with a higher likelihood of drier conditions for many places compared to recent weeks. Temperatures probably recovering to nearer average but with more settled conditions bringing some warmer days, and some cooler nights remain possible.