UK snow forecast: Alert for ‘heavy’ showers as -7C Arctic air sweeps south from SUNDAY

Met Office forecasts colder temperatures across the UK

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The UK baked in scorching highs of 23C in many regions earlier this week, with the Met Office confirming Tuesday was the warmest March day since March 29 1968. But the spring heat blast was short-lived as cold Polar air is now forecast to arrive in time for the Bank Holiday weekend, bringing wintry conditions including snow and subzero temperatures with it on Easter Monday. The latest snow probability charts from WXCHARTS showed the whole of the UK covered with shades of red, orange, purple and dark blue, suggesting there is between 40 to 100 percent chance of snow falling everywhere on Monday.

The northerly winds could also cause temperatures to plunge to bitterly cold lows of -7C in central Scotland on the same day, while Cumbria in the north west of England sees -5C.

Further south, Manchester and Stoke could see -3C, while London and Kent in the south east shiver at 0C.

Brian Gaze, a forecaster at Weather Outlook, warned the whole of the UK is expected to feel the freezing cold air this weekend, due to widespread wintry showers.

He said: “Easter Sunday sees things begin to change as Arctic air sweeps southwards.

“By Bank Holiday Monday it is expected to be very cold in all of the UK and showers may turn wintry even in southern counties.

“Temporary accumulations of snow are possible in places, particularly over high ground in the north.

“During the morning of Bank Holiday Monday outbreaks of rain clear southwards and they could turn to sleet or wet snow on their back edge.

“Wintry showers become widespread and they will be heavy at times, particularly in the north.

“The showers could bring snow to low levels and temporary accumulations are possible over high ground and in the north.”

The BBC’s long-range forecast between Wednesday, March 31 and Sunday, April 4, added a cold front could arrive from the Arctic this weekend.

The forecast said: “Heading into the Easter holiday weekend, the weather will likely be a few degrees colder than the average for the time of year but largely dry with patchy cloud at first.

“From Sunday and into next week the weather may turn much more unsettled, with a stronger cold front arriving from the north bringing polar air from the Arctic.

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“This may only reach Scotland by Sunday with some uncertainty on the exact timing.”

The Met Office also said April should feel wintry until the middle of the month, when temperatures start to rise again.

The forecast between Tuesday, April 6, and Thursday, April 15, said: “Cold and unsettled to start this period, particularly at first, when snow and hail showers are likely just about anywhere.

“The north, west and eastern coastal areas seeing the most frequent and heavy showers on Tuesday.

“Some strong winds also developing for a time accentuating the cold feel.

“This general picture continues into much of April, with showers most frequent around the north and east.

“Any snow will most likely be restricted to higher ground of the north later.

“Towards the end of this period, however, mixed weather patterns begin to evolve meaning that although showers and longer spells of rain are still probable, some drier interludes are also likely.

“Temperatures are also likely to return to around average.”

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