Easter weather forecast: TEN inches of snow, gales and plummeting temps - happy Easter
SNOW and plummeting temperatures are set to hit Britain this weekend in a new Easter weather forecast which will dismay mums but may cheer their holidaying schoolkids!
Despite forecasters earlier predictions of a warm Easter break, parts of Cumbria, Scotland and Yorkshire woke up under up to an inch of the white stuff as thermometers plunged overnight.
The Met Office issued severe weather warnings for snow warning motorists to expect delays and take extra care on the roads.
The sudden return to winter, which could stay with us for a fortnight, is being blamed on a bitter blast of air from the Polar regions.
Forecasters said the mercury will plunge to -5C (23F) on Friday with up to 10 inches of snow on the way for the weekend.
Leon Brown, forecaster for the Weather Channel UK, said parts of Britain should also batten down the hatches for 50mph gales.
He said: "It will be another frosty start on Friday for many areas of the UK, and a sharp frost in Scotland with temperatures as low as -5C.
It is set to turn colder again into next week
"It is an unsettled and windy weekend ahead, but at least the south will be a little warmer, but a very wet and also windy morning for the north on Saturday, and again snow for the mountains in Scotland.
"There could be up to 25cm [10ins] of snow over the higher mountains, so not a good day to venture out hill walking."
He said after a brief mild spell in the south at the beginning of the week, the whole country will turn colder in time for Easter.
"With a strong jet stream over the UK early next week it will remain very unsettled, windy and often wet over the north with more snow for the Scottish Mountains," he added.
"Temperatures early next week will be above normal reaching 14 to 15C on Monday and Tuesday in the south but colder across the north and turning colder in the south later next week.
"At the moment Easter looks like starting quite cold, especially in the north with a risk of snow showers over Scotland."
Chris Burton, forecaster for The Weather Network, warned parts of Britain to expect heavy rain and snow into next week.
He said: "Low pressure will be firmly in charge over the weekend with spells of heavy rain and mountain snow spreading east across the country.
"Although it will be milder with highs of 11-14C across southern Britain, it will still feel cool with the strength of the wind.
"It is set to turn colder again into next week with a showery north-westerly wind expected."
The Met Office warned of a wet and windy start to next week with overnight temperatures dropping below freezing in the north and not much higher elsewhere.
Spokeswoman Laura Young said: "The heaviest rain and greatest risk of gales will be in the north and west.
"Southeastern areas will see the best of the dry weather, but still windy with occasional rain.
"Temperatures mostly mild in the south, but colder in the north.
"Generally remaining changeable through the remainder of next week and into Easter, with spells of wind and rain, especially across northwestern parts."
The chilly outlook comes as long-range experts warn Britain could be set to shiver for the next three months.
Weather Services International (WSI) said although warmer temperatures may reach Scandinavia and southeast Europe, Britain could shiver until July.
Chief meteorologist Dr Todd Crawford, said: "March has gone as expected so far, with the persistence of unusual warmth across Scandinavia and near or slightly below-normal temperatures across the UK and western Europe.
"As we look ahead to summer, most of our indicators suggest a very warm and generally dry summer across Scandinavia, eastern Europe, and western Russia.
"On the other hand, near to below-normal temperatures and above-normal rainfall are more likely across western and southern sections."
James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, said the worst of the weather over the next few days will be in the north.
He added: "The colder conditions will be more prominent in parts to the north, with parts of the south featuring the best of the milder temperatures.
"The weekend will also see some rather windy conditions and potential gales developing for many, in particular, in some parts of the north.
"Some slightly milder temperatures and periods of sunshine can also be expected later in the week in parts of the south.
"There is now a chance that temperatures could feature at below-average for the March period as a whole, and on the basis of the upcoming week.
"This would bring our first below-average month since August of last year in terms of the mean Central England Temperature (CET)."
