PLANNING for the Easter weekend is underway – but beware the weather this bank holiday.

The Met Office has issued weather warnings for much high winds across much of the south of England for Thursday, including Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire.

And the unsettled weather is set to continue into Good Friday, forecasters warned, with “low pressure continuing to feed showers and longer spells of rain across the UK, although drier spells will develop later in the day from the east”.

On Saturday, the showery theme will continue, the Met Office said in southern and western areas.

“Sunday looks to be the best day of the week; however, conditions will return to more unsettled from the south later Sunday and into Monday,” a forecaster said.

“This will bring a widely unsettled day, at least across southern areas, for Easter Monday, with the best of the conditions, at least to begin, further north.”

A weather warning is in place between 7am and 6pm on Thursday. Picture: Met Office

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, Helen Caughey, 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, especially on Sunday.

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

“However, more widely unsettled conditions look likely to return into Easter Monday, but there is still some uncertainty in the timing of this deterioration.”

READ MORE: Roadworks being removed – and when you should set off to avoid Easter traffic

RAC Breakdown spokesperson, Rod Dennis, warned people to be wary of changing weather conditions on the roads.

“With plenty of classic early spring weather over the Easter bank holiday weekend – showers and gusty winds along with some brighter interludes – drivers getting away will definitely need to be on their guard and ready to cope with rapidly changing road conditions,” he said.

“Slowing down in the heaviest of downpours on Good Friday and Easter Saturday is a must as stopping distances will be far greater.

“It’s vitally important drivers don’t travel through any standing water at speed, however shallow, as this dramatically increases the risk of aquaplaning and losing control of their vehicles.

“When it comes to an easier time on the roads, Sunday could be drivers’ best bet before the weather deteriorates once again on Easter Monday.

“As the weather over the weekend is so changeable, it’s also a good idea to have sunglasses to hand to make driving safer when the sun makes an appearance and causes wet roads to dazzle.”