Nation divided by weather
BRITAIN faces a polar split this weekend with a freeze in the north as the south basks in a heatwave.
The Met Office’s long-range forecast reveals temperatures ranging from nearly zero to 18C.
But the topsy-turvy weather will make way for a prolonged warm blast later this month.
By Sunday, April 22, the day of the London Marathon, the mercury could hit 22C.
The Met Office forecast said: “Friday and next weekend will see mostly cloudy conditions across central and northern areas with occasional rain and showers.
“However, conditions will probably turn drier and brighter from the south with time.
“This will leave a mixture of sunny spells and scattered showers. There will be large variations ® in temperatures, with eastern and north-eastern parts often rather cold, but in the west and south, it will be warm at times.” London is expected to bask in a heatwave with cities such as Manchester, Brighton and Bristol also anticipating highs of 17C. But during the dramatic split, Newcastle will be shivering as the temperature will feel like freezing, according to forecasters Net Weather. This weekend will be the latest example of extreme weather that has confused the country so far in 2018. Britain has been battered by weather fronts this year dubbed “the Beasts from the East”. But according to experts we are set for a sizzling 27C summer. A spokesman for the Met Office said: “Spring will finally come.”