Good Friday is set to live up to its name with Britain expected to enjoy a sunny weekend before the rain returns for a gloomy Easter Monday.
The UK has been battered with freezing conditions and a deluge of rain so far this year. Despite a hiatus during the second half of the week, more April showers are set to make their way over from the Atlantic.
The weather front heading eastwards is expected to come into play on the evening of Easter Sunday and into Easter Monday.
But before the miserable weather makes its presence known Britons will bask in warm sunshine on Good Friday with highs of 15C or 16C in the south, 12C to 14C further north with 16C expected in London and 15C in Cardiff.
It will be a chilly start to double Bank Holiday weekend with frost in many western areas, although regions under sunnier skies will see temperatures rise as high as 16°C or 17°C during Friday afternoon.
Met Office Deputy Chief forecaster David Oliver said: "Similar conditions are likely for much of the UK on Easter Saturday, but during the second half of the Easter weekend the Atlantic will increasingly exert its influence.
"A frontal system is expected to move in from the west and displace the high pressure lying across the UK.
"This will spread rain across all areas during the latter part of Easter Sunday and through Easter Monday, although there is some uncertainty regarding its exact timing.
"Once the rain clears blustery showers are likely to follow in its wake across many areas."
Saturday will see the "vast majority" of the UK can expect "spells of sunshine", according Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern, with highs of 14C to 16C.
Easter Sunday could be the warmest day of the year so far, with highs of up to 18C expected in parts of the UK. That would set a new warmest day for 2023, exceeding the current highest temperature of 17.8C on March 30 in the village of Santon Downham, Suffolk.
UK 5 day weather forecast
Today:
Dry with plenty of sunshine across most areas. After a cold start, feeling fairly warm by afternoon in light winds. Low cloud may affect some North Sea coasts at times, especially later.
Tonight:
Clear skies allowing frost and a few fog patches to form across some parts. Low cloud across northeastern coasts likely to spread westwards overnight with some hill and coastal fog.
Saturday:
Early low cloud in the east slowly breaking. Elsewhere, plenty of warm sunshine again, though turning rather breezy in the west.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
Dry for most on Sunday with some sunshine. Rain arriving in the west later heralding the change to more unsettled conditions into next week.
