UK weather: Britain braces for cold snap this weekend before temperatures hit 70F next week

Britain will enjoy balmy temperatures hitting 70F (21C) next week as the outdoor rule of six returns – but not before a brief cold snap from tonight which will bring sleet, hail and even snow.

The Met Office said chilly air will sweep in today behind an active weather front bringing strong winds and heavy rain, turning wintry into the night with the ‘potential for some sleet and hail just about anywhere’.

Snow is possible over hillier parts of the country including Exmoor, Dartmoor, the Pennines and Scotland with up to 4in (10cm) expected in the western Highlands, while the start of tomorrow could also bring a widespread frost.

But temperatures will continue on a ‘rollercoaster ride’ into next week which could see highs of 64F (18C) on Monday and 70F (21C) on Tuesday in the South as people can gather in groups of six outside again. This is likely to be the warmest day of 2021 so far, beating the current UK high of 66.2F (19C) set in Edinburgh on March 18. 

The mercury is set to stay above average for the time of year until at least Wednesday, with signs that it may then fall slightly with forecasters adding that there are ‘some hints that it might just turn a little bit colder’ for Easter. 

Sunrise above the Port Of London Authority’s Royal Terrace Pier on the River Thames near the Kent town of Gravesend today

Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: ‘A taste of winter as we begin this weekend, but it really is the snappiest of cold snaps, because it doesn’t last long before milder air rushes in from the West.’

He said this will bring heavy rain for some places but ‘very little rain for other places’, adding that the cold air will sweep across on Friday ‘behind an active weather front which will bring some heavy rain and strong winds’.

A band of heavy rain is sweeping across the country today

A band of heavy rain is sweeping across the country today

Mr McGivern added: ‘Behind this we’ve got an awful lot of showers, some very lively downpours arriving from the West and North West during Friday, and they turn increasingly wintry on Friday night as temperatures fall away. There’s the potential for some sleet and hail just about anywhere, and a dusting of snow, I wouldn’t be surprised, over any hillier parts of England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.’

He said the most significant snow accumulations will be over the Pennines and Scotland, above 1,000ft (300m) where 2in (5cm) is expected, and for the West Highlands above that area about 4in (10cm) in places.

He continued: ‘A cold start on Saturday, a widespread frost, watch out for those icy stretches where we’ve had the showers coming through overnight, but some bright weather around, some sunshine.

‘Actually the showers don’t last long, they quickly fade away through Saturday morning, remaining there for a time in Northern England, but otherwise it’s largely going to be increasingly dry and bright with plenty of sunny spells breaking out across eastern parts of the UK.

‘Still some thicker cloud further West, increasingly thick through Saturday afternoon, a few showers of rain for South West England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but it stays dry and bright in the East.’ 

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Temperatures will get up to 12C (54F) tomorrow and could reach 15C (59F) on Sunday before rising further into next week

Forecasters MetDesk revealed this temperature map for next Tuesday showing highs around the 70F (21C) mark in the South

Forecasters MetDesk revealed this temperature map for next Tuesday showing highs around the 70F (21C) mark in the South

He said that after the chilly start, temperatures will recover slightly and be back to 9C (48F) to 12C (54F) which is around average for the time of year.

Mr McGivern said: ‘Winds easing for a time, but as this weather comes in, the winds increase, the isobars pack together, weather fronts pushing in quickly.

‘These weather fronts contain much milder air but they contain an awful lot of rainfall as well, so some heavy rain pushing into north-western parts of the UK during Saturday night and that then toppling its way southwards.

‘After a wet start for Scotland and Northern Ireland it turns a bit drier and brighter with showers following. But the rain is going to stall across parts of North West England into wales, the South West as well.

‘It’s going to be generally on and off in lower parts of the country, but over the higher parts of North West England, Wales, Dartmoor and Exmoor, it could well be a wet day throughout Sunday.’

Thickening cloud from the west drifts in as this morning's sun rises above the Ro-Ro Cargo ship Meleq near Gravesend today

Thickening cloud from the west drifts in as this morning’s sun rises above the Ro-Ro Cargo ship Meleq near Gravesend today

He continued: ‘Further South East the rain doesn’t reach here, some bright weather and temperatures on the rise – we’re looking at 14C (57F), 15C (59F), perhaps higher if we get some cloud breaks.

‘This wind coming in from the South West (is) a big change compared to how we start the weekend. And there’ll be some brightness in the east of Scotland away from the showers further west.

‘But the rain perhaps relentless through North West England as well as parts of Wales, especially over the hills, and there is a real risk that it will continue to mount up through Monday and the start of Tuesday.’

Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin added that the next ten days ‘could be, certainly in terms of temperature, a bit of a rollercoaster ride’, adding that there are ‘some hints that it might just turn a little bit colder’ for Easter.

And a spokesman for forecasters MetDesk tweeted: ‘Temperatures sneaking into the 20s on Tuesday? Increasing confidence of some warm weather in the South midweek. But don’t bank on it lasting into the Easter weekend.’