Snow and frost forecast with Arctic blast set to follow up balmy weather

AFTER a glorious blast of record spring warmth, the weather is about to give us all a harsh reality check.

A much cooler spell over the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend will eventually see us plunged into Arctic temperatures as low as -4C, with snow and damaging frosts on the cards after Sunday.

After a comparatively dull and cool day yesterday, Good Friday and Easter Saturday could deliver some pleasant sunny spells, with average temperatures – but a change will be in the air by Easter Sunday and it’s going to get very cold very quickly.

Fairly pleasant daytime temperatures will fall away sharply overnight, bringing a hard frost and even the potential of a dusting of snow in parts of Derbyshire by the morning of Easter Monday.

Monday’s biting northerly wind will add to the wintry feel, with the potential for further snow showers throughout the day and into Tuesday, which will begin with another frost.

The Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist, Mark Sidaway, said: “After a settled, warm spell with plenty of sunshine, particularly across England and Wales, our weather will take a notable change in direction later in the weekend.

“Very cold Arctic air will move in from the north west through Sunday, bringing snow showers and freezing overnight temperatures.

“The snow showers will predominantly affect the north and west of the UK.

“The south and east will likely remain drier but still cold with a lower chance of wintry showers.”

The middle of the week could bring gardeners and growers a break from the unwelcome frosts, but temperatures will only recover to some extent – it will still feel unseasonably cold and there is still the threat of a few flurries of snow.

The bitter northerly wind looks set to return by next Friday, leading to the potential for more frosts and snow showers, and ahead of a weekend that will be cold and fresh, but with more wintry showers possible.

And as we move towards Monday, April 12, with beer gardens set to open for the first time in many months, it looks set to remain cold, although there are no strong signals for especially wet conditions.

Weather graphic – Page 24

ROD KIRKPATRICK/F STOP PRESS Seen from the Weaver Hills, at the southernmost point of the Pennines, the towers, spires and rollercoasters at Alton Towers, Staffordshire, emerge through the dawn mist ahead of what is forecast to be the warmest day of the year so far. The current castle was constructed in the mid-19th century by John Talbot, 16th Earl of Shrewsbury. Since 1967 the castle has been designated a Grade I listed building.