Parts of the UK are set to experience wintry showers and chilly temperatures today, with the mercury potentially dropping to as low as –3C in some parts.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Jason Kelly said that a bout of low pressure has brought wintry weather conditions across the UK, which are only expected to last for the next few days.
He said: “From midweek low pressure begins to return from the southwest bringing outbreaks of heavy rain at times. Although it will start to turn milder in the south it will stay colder in the extreme northeast with a few wintry showers.”
Nick Silkstone, a deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office, said that temperatures are unseasonably low for the time of year.
He said: “The UK’s temperatures have been much colder than average with some locations experiencing overnight frosts.
"An area of low pressure moving eastwards away from the UK has allowed cold Arctic air to spread south across the UK.
“Although temperatures will increase in much of Britain by the end of the week, conditions in the far north are still expected to remain colder than average.”
The Met Office has forecasted temperatures to plummet to –3 degrees in the Scottish Highlands, with an average of 3 degrees in the north east.
But looking ahead Brits will be able to bask in a balmy Bank Holiday weekend with temperatures set to be higher than Monaco in the south of France.
Temperatures will start to move up by Thursday as the Arctic winds disappear and into Friday it will be cloudy and fairly gloomy but the mercury could already rise to 20C.
UK weather forecast:
Wednesday:
Conditions are expected to be mostly dry across the UK, with variable cloud, clear spells and chilly temperatures for most areas.
In the southwest, the weather will be dull and damp with some patchy light rain.
Further wintry showers will affect the northeast of Scotland, and a few showers will develop across southern Scotland and northern England.
Thursday:
It will be cloudy in most parts, especially in southern and central areas, with cloud expected to increase in the west.
The south will see heavy and thundery rain, with patchy light rain in the southwest.
Some showers will push westwards from the North Sea. It will be brighter elsewhere, with wintry showers in the far north and some cloud. Rain and snow in hilly areas is expected in Scotland.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
Rain will clear into Friday. It will then be a rather cloudy day, with just a few showers in the afternoon. Saturday will see variable cloud and showers in the north and west, but dry with sunshine in the south-east. Temperatures will become mostly warmer, with some showers.
