After the heatwave, winter to roar back

WHAT a difference a week makes … less than ten days after Britain basked in the hottest April temperatures for almost 70 years, snow is due to return.

Forecasters are predicting wintry conditions on the North and South Downs, and have issued a flood and gale warning with up to two and a half inches of rain through Sunday night and into Monday.

A week ago, parts of Britain were enjoying a heatwave caused by tropical air drawn north from the Azores. Last Thursday, 29.1C (84.3F) was recorded in St James’s Park, London, making it the hottest April day since 1949.

But the country is now in for an unsettled spell, the worst of which is due to hit London, South-East England and East Anglia.

Daytime temperatures in rural parts of the South-East on Monday could struggle to reach 5 or 6C (41-43F). The average temperature for late April is 14C (57F).

The Meteorological Office has issued a warning for between 9pm on Sunday and midnight on Monday. As well as the rain and wintry conditions,

there could also be strong

winds, reaching 50mph on exposed coasts. The weather warning states: ‘There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded, causing damage to some buildings. ‘Spray and flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures. ‘Where flooding occurs, there is a slight chance of delays or cancellations to train and bus services.’ The Met Office said rainfall of at least one inch (25mm) is possible in many areas of the South- East but that some areas could receive more than two-and-a-half inches (70mm).

It added: ‘The heavy rain will be accompanied by strong to gale force northerly winds, and it will be cold enough to produce some snow on high ground such as the North and South Downs although this is unlikely to settle.’

John West, a forecaster for the Met Office, said: ‘ The weather on Sunday into Monday is likely due to a deep area of low pressure spinning in from Northern Europe.

‘It is likely to be slow-moving, so significant rainfall totals are expected. Temperatures in the areas affected are likely to be a lot colder than what we’ve been enjoying recently.’

Mr West said any snow is unlikely to settle and should be only a temporary feature, turning back into rain. An earlier area of low pressure is expected to spread across England and Wales from the SouthWest today.

Tomorrow is set to be the best day of the weekend, with spells of fine and dry weather, although heavy showers could occur in North West England later in the day.

Mr West said the outlook for the rest of next week remains unsettled.