Weather maps show a wintry return from this coming week, with temperatures looking set to drop below zero and snow falling over Wales, Scotland, and even parts of England
The UK has been issued a snow warning that looks set to derail spring just a matter of days after the season officially began, with the country on notice for a wintry spell.
Temperatures have in recent days soared to the high teens, and even up to 20C in some parts of the nation on Wednesday in a welcome change to what had been a chilly start to March. Those temperatures are expected to hold through the Saturday and into Sunday, with 14C expected today, on the Spring Equinox.
But forecasters warned temperatures have peaked for now and are expected to plummet from Sunday, down to single digits by Wednesday, bringing a return to wintry weather for some areas.
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Temperatures are expected to hover at or a little below average, with frequent showers and blustery winds, the Met Office predicted in its latest forecast. Meteorologist Alex Deakin said Wednesday will signal a “cold plunge”, with snow possible in Scotland, which recorded its warmest day of the year on Friday, with a peak of 20.2C recorded in Fyvie Castle, Aberdeenshire.
He said: “If we look at the temperature profile for the next few days, then we really notice that difference by the time we get to Wednesday.”
“Temperatures by Wednesday (will be) single digits for many, and that’s the max, so it’s going to get cold at night. Probably the peak of that cold will be on Wednesday night, that’s when the cold plunge really comes in.” Parts of northern Scotland could see snow on Wednesday night and into Thursday morning.
Mr Deakin warned this would come as a “shock to the system” for many Scots, who would have been buoyed by the unseasonably fine weather of last week.
He said there would “easily” be snow over the hills. Mr Deakin added: “We could easily see some snow over the hills in Scotland. Nothing unusual about that at this time of year, but it will feel different because it has been so warm and sunny for many of us over recent times, so you’ll get that shock to the system.”
Rain and wind will ease later in the week but temperatures are likely to remain cool, with the potential for overnight frost in some areas, the Met Office said.
Weather maps show some flurries over Scotland and down the east coast through Newcastle to the east of England at Norwich. While it looks set to stretch several hundred miles down the country, including northern Wales, the flurries are unlikely to settle, with temperatures still in the low single-figures rather than venturing below zero.
Temperatures will widely hold between 1C to 2C in England, occasionally down as low as -1C, while they remain markedly colder in Scotland, down as low as -5C in the highlands and to the north of the home nation.
