Snow threat as April springs shock
FREEZING temperatures and snow are about to plunge Britain into one of the harshest late April cold snaps on record.
A plume of bitter air from Iceland will push temperatures to - 7C ( 19F) in parts of the country this week.
Heavy snow is forecast over high ground in Scotland, while sleet and hail, and possibly snow, is on the cards as far south as the Midlands, Wales and London.
Winter- like conditions will grip the country before milder weather returns in time for the May bank holiday, experts say.
Thermometers will plunge to minus fi gures in northern regions from tonight and most places will touch freezing.
Daytime temperatures will struggle to rise much above single fi gures across the country by the middle of the week.
Experts have warned people not to be lulled into a false sense of security by the recent mild weather.
Exacta Weather forecaster James Madden said: “Tuesday and Wed nes day will bring a signifi cant snow risk across many parts of the country. Even parts as far south as London are at risk of seeing some heavy showers and settling snow.
“Widespread regions in the North will see the greatest risk of snow from the start of the week before the risk spreads further south in the coming days.
“Although southern Britain will fare better, a major blast of winter awaits with hefty hail showers likely at lower levels across the country.
Misery
“Widespread frosts are also likely within this period under clearer skies and chilly northerly winds.”
The Met Offi ce said that Britain will feel bitterly cold until the end of the week, when temperatures will lift.
Forecaster Marco Petagna said: “The fi rst half of the week is looking very cold as Arctic maritime air sinks across the UK.
“We are expecting snow across the hills on Monday but further into the week we could see wintry showers, hail or sleet, anywhere.
“Temperatures will remain low into the early hours of Thursday, and it is not until then that they gradually start to recover into the weekend.
“We expect lows generally of freezing, although rural regions could get down to - 6C or a couple of degrees below over the next few nights.
“Widespread frosts will issue in the coming days.”
The freak Arctic snap is being driven by low pressure to the north of Scotland pulling cold air southwards over Britain.
Temperatures are likely to dip to - 7C during the early hours of Thursday, beating the - 6.1C record low for April 27 set in Moray in 1956.
The Weather Channel said Britain is about to turn colder than Iceland with parts of the country likely to be under snow as the bank holiday approaches. Thunder and hailstorms will add to the misery.
It will start to warm up by next weekend although the weather will turn unsettled in parts of Britain.
WeatherOnline said: “It will be milder on Friday but it becomes very windy with gales around Northern coasts.” be an