Large parts of the UK could be shivering in sub-zero temperatures later this month, just days after a “mini heatwave”.
Forecast data collected by wxcharts.com suggest vast swathes of Great Britain and Northern Ireland could be enjoying two days of balmy temperatures from Thursday, April 10, with the mercury rising as high as 19C in Scotland.
But by Monday, April 14, parts of Scotland could then be plunged into freezing temps – as low as -2C around the country’s northeast.
Come midnight the following day, large parts of England and Wales could also be seeing teeth-chattering lows, with some areas north of Manchester seeing minimum temperatures of -2C.
By 6am, areas in the southern half of Wales could see temperatures as low as -4C, and parts of southern England as cold as -3C.
Most of the country will be at either 0C or below at this time, the maps suggest.
By midday, Wales could be seeing the lowest minimum temperatures (-2C) with parts of southern England at -1C at the lowest, whilst Scotland and Northern Ireland also see minimum temperatures between 0 and 2C, though on Scotland’s northeast the minimum could be 2C.
The maps indicate that the icily-cold period could ease off by 6pm, with all of the country seeing minimum temperatures across the country between 1 and 7C.
The Met Office’s long-range forecast for Wednesday, April 9 to Friday, April 18, says high pressure is “expected to prevail early in this period maintaining largely settled conditions”.
“This should result in largely dry weather with plenty of sunshine for most,” the Government agency adds.
“Daytime temperatures will depend on the wind direction and cloud amounts, but most places will be warm for most of the period, and very warm days most likely will be further inland”, though coasts with an onshore flow will tend to be cooler.
“Overnight frosts are possible on clear nights where winds fall light,” it continues.
“There is also the chance of some areas of low cloud or fog, notably around the east coast.
“Towards the middle of April, the weather is likely to turn more unsettled for a time with a greater chance of showers or longer spells of rain for all regions.
Meanwhile, the forecast for this evening and tonight is of a “dry evening and night with mostly clear skies”, with some low cloud developing “across parts of England, Wales and Scotland”.
Parts of the north are also expected to turn frosty, it continues, adding: “Breezy, especially across the south”.
Saturday is expected to bring low cloud gradually clearing for most to give a dry day with plenty of sunshine, The Met Office says, adding that it will be warm in the sunshine, but with a “cooling easterly breeze in places”.
