The return of WINTER! Arctic winds bring SNOW and -1C up north

Arctic winds are set to batter Britain today bringing snow and temperatures of -1C in the north – with the mercury not much higher in the south.  

The freezing weather comes just 24 hours after Britons packed beaches and parks all over the country to bask in warm temperatures and enjoy the easing of lockdown

However, Monday’s temperatures are expected to be far lower as cold northern winds move over the country.   

The Met Office has issued three snow and wind warnings – in what is predicted to be a three-day cold snap bringing ‘heavy snow showers’. England’s east coast could also see snow showers following yesterday’s sunshine.

Met Office forecaster Sarah Kent said: ‘We will see this plunge of much colder conditions coming in. It’s Arctic maritime air, which does mean it’s coming from the Arctic.

‘So it’s going to be cold for everybody, but also windy too. The wind chill is going to be significant.’ 

The Met Office’s yellow warnings are in place from 4pm on Sunday until 10am on Tuesday for Scotland, with winds of up to 70mph forecast.

Coastal areas of eastern England, parts of Wales and Northern Ireland could also see snow showers on Easter Monday.

Southern England can expect to see some sunshine and highs of 7C later in the day, but gusts of up to 30mph will make the temperature ‘feel like’ -1C, Ms Kent said.

It comes after the Met Office said highs of 17.9C (64.2F) were recorded in Pershore, Worcestershire, on Easter Sunday. The town is expected to see temperatures of 7C (44.6F) on Monday, an 11C fall.

TODAY: Traffic on the A832 near Muir of Ord this morning as snow sweeps in across the Highlands on what is expected to be a bitterly cold day

TODAY: A motorist clears snow from a vehicle in Sunniside, Gateshead on Easter Monday following overnight snow

TODAY: A motorist clears snow from a vehicle in Sunniside, Gateshead on Easter Monday following overnight snow

YESTERDAY: People enjoy the warm weather on Southsea beach in Hampshire on Easter Sunday following a warm bank holiday weekend

YESTERDAY: People enjoy the warm weather on Southsea beach in Hampshire on Easter Sunday following a warm bank holiday weekend

Traffic on the A832 near Muir of Ord this morning as snow sweeps in across the Highlands with the warm weather replaced by a bitterly cold snap

Traffic on the A832 near Muir of Ord this morning as snow sweeps in across the Highlands with the warm weather replaced by a bitterly cold snap

A farmer controls his herd of sheep on snow covered grounds in Castleside, County Durham on a freezing cold Easter Monday

A farmer controls his herd of sheep on snow covered grounds in Castleside, County Durham on a freezing cold Easter Monday

Sheep stand on snow covered ground in Stanley, County Durham on Easter Monday following overnight snow as the UK enters an 'Arctic trough'

Sheep stand on snow covered ground in Stanley, County Durham on Easter Monday following overnight snow as the UK enters an ‘Arctic trough’

Houses in Oldham covered in snow this morning as temperatures plummet sharply across the country on Easter Monday

Houses in Oldham covered in snow this morning as temperatures plummet sharply across the country on Easter Monday

Met Office forecaster Simon Partridge said: ‘There’ll be a drop of 11 degrees between one day and the next, so you will definitely notice it!’

Mr Partridge explained that a change of wind direction would bring a change in the atmosphere, leading to chilly weather.

He said: ‘The air we had on Sunday came in from the south so it’s pretty mild having come off the continent.

‘Overnight we’ll see a cold front moving southward across the country, it’s already across northern Scotland, and it’ll push its way southward overnight.

‘That will introduce much, much colder air across the whole country.’

Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Mark Sidaway, said: ‘After a settled, warm spell with plenty of sunshine particularly across England and Wales our weather will take a notable change in direction later in the weekend.

‘Very cold Arctic air will move in from the north west through Sunday, bringing snow showers and freezing overnight temperatures.

 ‘The snow showers will predominantly affect the north and west of the UK. The south and east will likely remain drier but still cold with a lower chance of wintry showers.’

A motorist clears snow from a vehicle in Sunniside, Gateshead on Easter Monday following overnight snow

A motorist clears snow from a vehicle in Sunniside, Gateshead on Easter Monday following overnight snow

A dusting of snow covers rooftops in Sunniside, Gateshead on Easter Monday following overnight snow as the UK enters an 'Arctic trough'

A dusting of snow covers rooftops in Sunniside, Gateshead on Easter Monday following overnight snow as the UK enters an ‘Arctic trough’ 

The Met Office's yellow warnings are in place from 4pm on Sunday until 10am on Tuesday for Scotland, with winds of up to 70mph forecast

The Met Office’s yellow warnings are in place from 4pm on Sunday until 10am on Tuesday for Scotland, with winds of up to 70mph forecast

Sub-zero temperatures can be expected in parts of northern England and the mercury could drop to -7C in some areas of Scotland on Monday (pictured)

And the weather is unlikely to let up later in the week (Tuesday's weather, pictured), with widespread snow showers expected in Scotland. Southern England will be blasted by wintry showers on Tuesday before the rain moves north

Sub-zero temperatures can be expected in parts of northern England and the mercury could drop to -7C in some areas of Scotland on Monday (left). And the weather is unlikely to let up later in the week (Tuesday’s weather, right), with widespread snow showers expected in Scotland. Southern England will be blasted by wintry showers on Tuesday before the rain moves north

This weekend's sweltering highs are set to dramatically plummet on Easter Monday to just 2C in the south of England (Monday's predicted temperatures)

The predicted temperatures on Monday

This weekend’s sweltering highs are set to dramatically plummet on Easter Monday to just 2C in the south of England (Monday’s predicted temperatures)

Sub-zero temperatures are expected in parts of northern England, while the mercury could drop to -7C in some areas of Scotland.

Snow warnings are in place for northern Scotland, with as much as 15cm falling in higher areas.

Met Office yellow warnings are in place until 10am on Tuesday for Scotland, with winds of up to 70mph forecast.

The east and west coasts of the country are likely to see a ‘wintry mix’ of showers, which may include some hail.

Areas away from the coast are expected to be dry and bright, but with strong winds and below average temperatures, largely in the mid-single figures.

The wind will play a key factor in today’s weather, as while southern England may see highs of up to 7C, gusts up to 30mph may make the temperature feel closer to freezing.

Average temperatures for this time of year are around 10 to 12C but parts of the UK saw the mercury reach nearly 24C (75.2F) on Wednesday.