THE big weather debate has started, as people across the West Somerset and Wellington areas prepare for the first Bank Holiday weekend of the year.

And the general picture based on Met Office forecasts appeared to be ‘warm but dull’ for the entire long weekend.

The Met Office said it had been a ‘week of contrasts’ leading up to Friday, when traditionally many people start their getaway to holiday locations.

Warmer conditions were spreading across the UK following below-average temperatures and heavy bursts of rain earlier in the week.

Chief meteorologist Steve Willington said: “The cold conditions from earlier in the week will linger longest in the far north of Scotland, but the rest of the UK will see the transition to warmer, but more unsettled conditions.

“However, frost is still a possibility in central areas of the UK where cloud gives way to clearer spells.”

He warned that in Scotland there was even a ‘chance of transient mountain snow’.

For Wellington, the weather experts predicted Friday temperatures would reach 16 degrees, rising over the weekend to 17 degrees on Monday, while it would remain mostly cloudy with some light showers on Sunday before brightening up again on Monday.

Minehead should see some sunshine during Friday, but overcast conditions on Saturday and Sunday, with a good deal of rain on the Saturday, and sunnier conditions returning on Monday, while maximum temperatures were likely to hover around 14 to 15 degrees.

On Exmoor, it was likely to be a degree or two warmer throughout the weekend, with mist and cloud early on Friday giving way to sunny intervals but remaining in place during Saturday, some sun fighting through light showers on Sunday, and a mixed day o