Brits are facing heavy snow and 70mph gales as the Arctic air continues to grip the country with temperatures dipping to -5C.
After some balmy 20C highs to welcome in spring it has been bitterly cold so far in April with the temperature below the average for the time of year and the freeze is expected to carry on into the weekend.
A low of -5C would be significantly colder than the average minimum temperature for April which is 3.75C between 1991 and 2020.
But it is also some way short of the coldest temperature on record for the weekend of April 9 and 10 which are -10.5C in Belper, Derbyshire, in 1973 and -10.1C in Grantown-on-Spey in Morayshire, in 1978.
Yellow weather warnings are in place by the Met Office for snow in the north of Scotland and strong winds on Thursday morning for the north west of England and North Wales.
The Met Office is warning of snow until 9am stating: “Wintry conditions overnight and early Thursday may lead to some travel disruption in a few areas.”
It has told people: “Some roads and possibly railways may be affected by snow leading to longer journey times.
“Possibly icy surfaces leading to increased likelihood of injuries or accidents, probably mainly on higher roads.”
Maps from WX Charts show that over 20 centimetres of snow could fall this morning while flurries are expected through the day and again overnight going into Friday.
Temperatures could get as low as -3C this morning in Scotland with the mercury close to zero also in northern England.
And it will feel bitterly cold, especially with the strong winds, over the coming days with maps showing it could dip to -5C on Saturday.
The Met Office warning for gales runs until 5am but it is expected to be a windy day for Thursday with gales reaching 70mph.
Met office forecaster Alex Deakin said: “Cold winds are strengthening. It is going to feel pretty bitter across the country during Thursday.
"A big swirl of cloud earlier on Wednesday, that is an area of low pressure, the low itself is moving steadily out to the North Sea and as it does the isobars squeezing closer together. (With) the wind strengthening and also coming down from the north introducing colder air right across the land, as I say quite a bitter feel with that wind on Thursday.”
UK forecast for the next 5 days
Cold, windy and showery for many.
Today:
Bands of rain or showers will move southwards across many parts with some snow on northern hills. Some drier, sunnier interludes, especially in the south this morning. Windy for many with gales affecting some coasts, and feeling cold.
Tonight:
Showers mostly dying out inland but continuing across northern Scotland with some snow on hills. Clear spells developing, allowing a frost in many places. Rain reaching the far southwest later.
Friday:
Rain affecting southern England for a time, clearing by afternoon. Elsewhere, a mixture of sunny spells and showers, some heavy with hail, sleet, and snow on hills. Cold and windy.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Plenty of sunshine but still cold with a few showers on Saturday. Feeling milder from Sunday but with cloud and rain moving in from the west overnight and through Monday.
