Snow flurries end start of warm spring
SNOW FLURRIES following bursts of bright sunshine have brought a close to a fortnight which also broke records for one of the warmest starts to spring.
Two weeks ago tomorrow some areas of the country were enjoying the warmest March day in more than 50 years, with temperatures hitting highs of 24.5C.
As they plummeted over the weekend to minus 8.4C overnight, bitter winds brought snow to the region with some areas in Yorkshire’s high hills seeing as much as four inches.
Met Office forecasters, hailing this year’s April showers as a ‘little colder’ than usual, have given hope for brighter days ahead. Temperatures are set to increase to a more seasonable 10 or 12C across parts of Yorkshire by Wednesday, although there are still warnings for gardeners over some nighttime frosts.
SNOW UP to four inches deep settled over Yorkshire’s hills at the weekend, but bursts of spring sunshine are expected to herald a brighter start to the week with temperatures rising in the days ahead.
Bitter winds on Saturday night saw temperatures plummet as far as -8.4C in Shepp, Cumbria, with Bainbridge, in Richmondshire, recording unseasonable lows of -4.1C.
It is April showers, said Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge, just a “little colder” than expected, or than Yorkshire may be used to for this time of year.
Mr Partridge, citing a band of high pressure in the west which has brought colder air to the region, said some parts of Yorkshire had seen as much as four inches of snow over the weekend.
“The North York Moors in particular has been in the firing line as that cold comes down the North Sea,” he added.
From today, drier weather is set to be on its way, with temperatures forecast to be a more moderate 10 to 12C by Wednesday.
Overnight it will be cooler, he warned, with temperatures this morning likely to have fallen to -4 or -5C in some places.
“It will improve, and things will settle down into the rest of this week,” said Mr Partridge.
“It’s not great news for gardeners I’m afraid, with frosts overnight, but temperatures will start to creep up.
“It comes in good time, as people will be able to get out in the sunshine and, dare I say it, even to a beer garden.”
A cold and frosty start to this morning is set to give way to highs of around 8C, becoming largely fine and dry with sunny spells and the odd shower, and setting the tone for a milder feel in the week ahead.
It is April showers, just a little colder than expected. Simon Partridge, Met Office forecaster.