A little hint of summer... and then winter!

IT MAY feel like summer has arrived early this week, but temperatures are set to plunge as Arctic winds hit the UK over the Easter weekend.

There could even be wintry showers on higher ground, with Easter Sunday and Monday feeling the coldest.

Temperatures highs of 22°C are expected in Wales today and tomorrow, but the wind direction will change by the end of the week to bring colder air from the north.

Met Office forecaster Ben Rich said: “It is going to feel like spring for a lot of us, and in some places you would be forgiven for thinking that summer has arrived early, but by the end of the week it will feel more like winter has returned.”

BBC Breakfast forecaster Carol Kirkwood said it will be particularly cold on Easter Sunday and Monday.

“By the end of the, the weather that is bringing the colder front will open the doors to some Arctic air that will come right the way across the whole of the UK,” she said. “It is going to turn much colder and it will be windy as well. There is even a chance of wintry showers on the hills.”

Temperatures could fall by as much as 10°C over the week.

Welsh weather forecaster Sue Charles said: “High pressure builds and southerly winds will draw up tropical warmth feeding in drier conditions so much more sunshine on Tuesday, and really feeling warmer as we tap into the air coming from the continent. Temperatures reaching the low 20s, a real taste of early summer. Similar on Wednesday.

“But we introduce northerly winds towards the end of the week so it will turn cooler again into the Easter weekend.”