Warm summer-like temperatures of 20C are set to turn into chilly wintry frosts within hours, forecasters say, with several inches of snow expected to fall across multiple parts of the UK
Britain is set for a hot-and-cold weather mix as maps show 3cm of snow falling per hour – just 60 hours after what could be the warmest day of the year.
The mercury is expected to reach a summery 20C in parts of the country today thanks to an area of high pressure, with most of the UK tipped to see pleasant daytime temperatures in the mid to high teens. It follows several days of mild weather well above the average for March, prompting the first signs of spring blossoms and some sightings of bees emerging for the new season. However, meteorologists are now warning that a sharp turn towards chilly temperatures is coming very soon.
Weather maps from WXCharts show heavy snow falling across multiple parts of the UK on Wednesday. A large area stretching across the Midlands will see as much as 3cm falling per hour, according to the data, with the northeast, Scottish Borders, North Wales and far north of Scotland also set for a wintry blast. Snow depth maps for later the same day estimate that 4cm (1.5in) of snow will settle in central areas, rising to 10cm (4in) in the Scottish Highlands.
Forecasters at the Met Office have also warned of a cold snap beginning late on Sunday and a “very different feel” to the weather compared to the past week, due to the arrival of a new frontal zone. Deputy Chief Meteorologist Chris Bulmer said: “A frontal zone will move south across the UK during Sunday night and Monday with much colder air following from the north.
“With these cold northeasterly winds, we are likely to see some wintry showers across the north and the east of the UK next week, but any accumulations of snow are likely to be largely restricted to hills. We’ll also see a return to overnight frosts in many areas. While there is uncertainty in the extent of rain and wintry showers through the middle of next week, there is higher confidence that below average temperatures will continue through the week, bringing a very different feel to the mild weather over the weekend.”
James Madden from Exacta Weather meanwhile said a “heightened snow risk” would begin in the early hours of Monday morning, covering “some parts of the far north and Scotland” as well as parts of northeast England. Going into Tuesday these snow showers could stretch to east of England and “quite far south”, he said, with the potential to reach southwest and southeast England. This wintry outlook is expected to continue until the end of the week before an area high pressure returns, resulting in milder temperatures.