BRITS are set for snow and ice as early as THIS week as temperatures are to become colder than ICELAND.
Forecasters say today will see the last glimpses of the sunny weather that hit Britain over the last week – before a flurry of the white stuff hits.
Temperatures have soared to 21C in the past few days, but parts of the UK could dip to as low as -3C before the snow starts to settle.
From Wednesday a band of snow will move down from the north and blanket Scotland and the northern parts of England in around four inches of snow.
“It will be markedly colder than what we’ve just seen, daytime temperatures falling by half, and some areas will even struggle to hit 8C (46.4F), which will signify the biggest change in conditions.”
Met Office forecaster Alex Burkhill said of the extreme change in weather: “Wednesday will be the most extreme in terms of wintry weather, as a cold stream of air will start to push southwards bringing unpredictable wet and windy conditions, even snow or sleet.
“Overnight into Thursday and Friday, many areas will fall considerably lower than freezing, towards minus 4C (24.8F) and minus 5C (23F). It looks like most places will be impacted; parts of northern England, northern Wales and central England are expected to be the worst affected.
“This wintry weather could even push into southern areas of England and Wales, which isn’t unusual; it is normal to have colder weather in April, but it’s far from the sunny, warm days seen last week.”
Read our UK weather blog below for the latest forecasts and updates…
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Drastic change as Brits to face -8C cold snap
Brits could face a drastic change in weather conditions in the coming few days.
WXCHARTS weather forecast service warns the UK’s 20C heatwave could be replaced by a -8C cold snap.
WXCHARTS suggests parts of Scotland could see chills of between -6C and -8C. However, warmer conditions could come towards the March 31, with temperatures hovering around 0C.
Parts of Wales instead look set to see temperatures vary from 1C to 3C.
England could see highs of 4C in Cornwall.
Snow is also forecast to fall across England on April 1, according to WXCHARTS.
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‘Big weather highlights’ to hit in April
It has been claimed by weather experts that there is a possibility of a heatwave in April.
Weather expert Jim Dale told the Express: “I think hot weather could come in fairly early as far as April is concerned perhaps. I know March is the start of spring but I think we’re probably going to get properly into April before we start to see the searing sort of temperatures.”
He also added: “Longer-term, given what’s happening globally in terms of the temperature profiles in the southern hemisphere and what’s also happening in the United States, I would not be surprised if we started to see some big highlights – in whichever direction it goes, either cold or hot.”
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It’s hay fever season
Experts have warned last week’s rising temperatures may have caused tree pollen levels to spike in the UK.
And a third of people with hayfever admitted to staying indoors because their allergies are too severe, a poll found.
It is thought climate change is increasing temperatures and elongating the pollen season.
Jin Zhang, global medical director at Kimberly-Clark UK, said: “When temperatures rise, primary sources of pollutants tend to increase, making the air quality even more challenging for millions of hay fever sufferers.
“As such, global warming will likely cause pollen seasons to start earlier and last longer.”
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Britain facing 60mph gales
Brits will be faced with stormy weather and winds of close to 60 miles per hour hitting the UK, after a week of high temperatures.
The high pressure which has brought this nicer, milder weather will then drift off westwards, according to the latest BBC Weather for the Week ahead report.
It will be replaced by lower pressures and lower temperatures.
On March 31, rainy weather and high winds will pick up across much of the UK.
Northern Ireland could see a max wind gust of 50 miles per hour.
Conditions will be even worse on April 3, with winds expected to be stronger.
Maximum gusts of around 51.6mph are likely to hit parts of northern Wales, according to maps from WX Charts.
And in London, the speed is predicted to reach just shy of 60 miles per hour (59.5).
Jim Dale from the British Weather Services said low pressures with air from Scandinavia will take over from next week.
Mr Dale added: “[There will be] snow too by the middle of the week for the mountains of Scotland and Scotland as a whole.”
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In pictures: Stunning sunrise over Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
This stunning image shows sunrise over Lytham St Annes in Lancashire.
The warm weather officially ended yesterday with snow forecast in some areas later in the week.
Forecasters have predicted conditions will turn wintry and showery from Wednesday.
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Short weather summary for Wednesday
The Met Office has released a shirt weather summary for tomorrow.
It reads: “Rain and hill snow continuing southwards; bright but distinctly cold to the north, with heavy hail and snow showers.
“Parts of Wales and southern England seeing sunny intervals and showers.”
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Snow could hit from Wednesday evening
Met Office forecaster Jonathan Vautrey added: “Snow could come on Wednesday evening or Thursday, especially in areas such as the Pennines.
“Overnight into Wednesday and Thursday, many areas will fall considerably lower than freezing, towards -6C.”
Two or three inches of snow will settle on the ground in Wales later in the week, and Northern Ireland should also see some flurries.
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Unpredictable wet and windy conditions this week
Official Met Office charts show temperatures dipping as low as -1C in Loch Rannoch, Scotland, on Thursday morning.
However forecasters have warned the mercury could plunge as low as -6C in parts as a bone-chilling cold front pushes down from the north.
Alex Burkill, a Met Office forecaster, said: “Wednesday will be the most extreme in terms of wintry weather, as a cold stream of air will start to push southwards bringing unpredictable wet and windy conditions, even snow or sleet.
“Overnight into Thursday and Friday, many areas will fall considerably lower than freezing, towards -4C and -5C.
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London Wednesday to Friday outlook
Fairly cloudy Wednesday, with outbreaks of rain and perhaps snow moving south overnight.
Sunny spells and wintry showers Thursday and Friday. Windy Thursday. Feeling much colder, with widespread frosts overnight.
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How does the start of April look?
High pressure to the west of the UK and Ireland will mean northerly winds will bring a cold start to the period.
Showers, likely wintry at times, will affect many northern and eastern areas. These showers could be heavy at times.
Elsewhere, many areas are likely to be dry, with frost widespread by night.
High pressure is likely to decline through the weekend, with spells of rain possibly pushing southeast across the country by the end of the weekend or the beginning of the following week.
Further spells of rain, with milder temperatures, interspersed with colder, showery interludes, will likely follow for the rest of the period.
Some strong winds are likely at times too.
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A change is on the way’
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: “Although the UK has had a good deal of fine and settled March weather in recent days, a change is on the way from the middle of next week with colder air spreading down from the north and the increasing likelihood of rain for most areas.
“On the hills in the north, there’s a chance of this falling as snow, although we’ll gain more certainty on that in the coming days.
“With the influence of some unsettled weather, we’ll be seeing a marked drop in temperatures for most with colder air arriving from the north.
“This will see maximum temperatures drop into single figures for many areas, and below freezing overnight.”
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Drop in temperatures poses risk to nation’s gardeners
The drop in temperatures is a risk for some of the nation’s gardeners.
The Royal Horticultural Society’s Guy Barter said: “Colder weather will slow plant growth and inhibit plums and pears pollination as insects fly less in cold dull weather.
“Hard frosts don’t seem likely so magnolias and fruit flowers should escape serious damage.
“Limited rain will help new sowings of peas and carrots for example and newly planted lettuces and other plants but should not greatly delay sowing and planting once conditions improve.
“Tender plants, petunias and tomatoes for example, won’t be put outside for another month at least but lower light affects greenhouses and will slow their growth.”
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Marked shift in weather during the coming weeks, says expert
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Neil Armstrong said: “We’re going to be seeing a marked shift in the weather for the UK in the coming week as the warm weather is displaced south.
“Temperatures will drop as cold air sweeps south with single figure maxima for most places from mid-week, and bringing with it the unsettled weather that we’ll see for much of the week.
“Some clear spells are still around later in the week, with the best of any sunshine likely to be in the south later in the week.”
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In pictures: Dense fog in Danbury, Essex
The image shows dense fog in Danbury, Essex, this morning.
The few days has seen Brits bask in Spring/Summer weather.
However, later in the week we will see conditions decline, with snow also forecast.
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Weather outlook for Thursday to Saturday
Cold for all parts with rain, sleet and snow clearing south on Thursday morning.
Further wintry showers for many parts through Thursday and Friday.
Turning less cold by Saturday.
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Short weather summary for Wednesday
Rain and hill snow continuing southwards; bright but distinctly cold to the north, with heavy hail and snow showers.
Parts of Wales and southern England seeing sunny intervals and showers.
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Band of snow to move southwards from Wednesday
From Wednesday a band of snow will move down from the north and blanket Scotland and the northern parts of England in around four inches of snow.
By Thursday it will have moved over northern parts of England, possibly dumping up to nine inches according to WX Charts.
Two or three inches of snow will settle on the ground in Wales later in the week, and Northern Ireland should also see some flurries.
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This afternoon’s weather ‘looking rather messy’
The Met Office says the weather this afternoon will be ‘messy’ with different conditions affecting different parts of the UK.
It tweeted: “This afternoon’s weather is looking rather messy.
“Rain continuing in the south, rain and hill snow pushing across Scotland, cloudy in the east, sunniest in the west and the risk of some showers.”
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Odds SLASHED on April being wettest EVER
Ladbrokes has slashed the odds for the second time this week on next month going down as the wettest April EVER.
Having been a 2/1 shot on Monday, the bookies now make it just 6/4 for this year to play host to a record-breaking wet April.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: “Things are about to get a whole lot wetter as far as the latest odds are concerned, with a record-breaking April potentially on the cards.”
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‘A change is on the way’
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: “Although the UK has had a good deal of fine and settled March weather in recent days, a change is on the way from the middle of next week with colder air spreading down from the north and the increasing likelihood of rain for most areas.
“On the hills in the north, there’s a chance of this falling as snow, although we’ll gain more certainty on that in the coming days.
“With the influence of some unsettled weather, we’ll be seeing a marked drop in temperatures for most with colder air arriving from the north.
“This will see maximum temperatures drop into single figures for many areas, and below freezing overnight.”
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In pictures: Stunning sunrise over Lytham St Annes, Lancashire
This stunning image shows sunrise over Lytham St Annes in Lancashire.
The warm weather is set to officially end today with snow forecast in some areas later in the week.
Forecasters have predicted conditions will turn wintry and showery from Wednesday.
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Short weather summary for Wednesday
The Met Office has released a shirt weather summary for tomorrow.
It reads: “Rain and hill snow continuing southwards; bright but distinctly cold to the north, with heavy hail and snow showers.
“Parts of Wales and southern England seeing sunny intervals and showers.”
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Snow could hit from Wednesday evening
Met Office forecaster Jonathan Vautrey added: “Snow could come on Wednesday evening or Thursday, especially in areas such as the Pennines.
“Overnight into Wednesday and Thursday, many areas will fall considerably lower than freezing, towards -6C.”
Two or three inches of snow will settle on the ground in Wales later in the week, and Northern Ireland should also see some flurries.
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Unpredictable wet and windy conditions this week
Official Met Office charts show temperatures dipping as low as -1C in Loch Rannoch, Scotland, on Thursday morning.
However forecasters have warned the mercury could plunge as low as -6C in parts as a bone-chilling cold front pushes down from the north.
Alex Burkill, a Met Office forecaster, said: “Wednesday will be the most extreme in terms of wintry weather, as a cold stream of air will start to push southwards bringing unpredictable wet and windy conditions, even snow or sleet.
“Overnight into Thursday and Friday, many areas will fall considerably lower than freezing, towards -4C and -5C.
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Short weather summary for today
Occasional rain across southern England clearing slowly.
Fog and low cloud in central areas retreating to eastern coasts, sunny intervals and scattered showers inland.
Rain moving southwards into Scotland, followed by colder weather with wintry showers in the far north.