Sun, storms, snow7
It’s back to business as usual after balmy weekend respite
THE bright Easter weekend is tipped to end in a washout as storms and even snow chase away the sunshine.
Torrential downpours and disruptive winds are expected to sweep in, and the Met Office could even name their first storm this year, which would be Anthoni.
It follows a sunny weekend when parks and beaches were filled with people enjoying the blue skies – though most stayed wrapped up as temperatures topped out at 17.1C in Surrey.
A boy who became trapped in sand up to his head as a hole he was digging on a beach collapsed around him was said to be “extremely lucky” to be alive.
His parents desperately tried to keep the sand away from the 14-year-old’s mouth as emergency services raced to Anderby Creek, near Skegness, Lincs.
Police towed at least 38 cars away from Snowdonia, or Eryri, after daytrippers left their vehicles on the grass behind crumbling stone walls and along narrow mountain roads.
North Wales Police said 29 vehicles parked near Llyn Ogwen and another nine in Pen y
Pass at the bottom of Snowdon, or Yr Wyddfa, were removed.
Weather warnings have been issued for Wednesday and Thursday, with winds threatening travel chaos and possibly even blackouts. The warning covers parts of the South West of England, Wales and western England.
There is even the possibility of snow in some areas. Met Office meteorologist Honor Criswick said: “There will be 40 to 50mph winds, potentially gusts of 60mph across the South West, Wales and Cornwall.
“There are potentially heavy downpours set for Tuesday evening. Most areas will see rain. In Carlisle there could be 20 to 30mm in 24 hours.
“There is a risk of snow on Monday and Wednesday, mainly confined to the hills. Most likely it will be sleet and hail with heavy downpours.”
Ms Criswick said the unsettled weather will continue until the end of the month. She added: “A deep area of low pressure is moving in from the Atlantic and there is a chance it could be 2023’s first named storm.”
Deputy chief meteorologist Steven Keates said high winds and heavy rain would develop late tomorrow and into Wednesday in the South West.
Some holidaymakers did not want to chance the Easter weather, with an estimated two million people thought to have headed abroad over the long weekend, according to ABTA.
There is a risk of snow, or most likely sleet and hail with heavy downpours
HONOR CRISWICK MET OFFICE METEOROLOGIST