The hot weather which has baked much of the UK this week is set to give way to a chilly Easter weekend with potential for snow.
The Met Office is warning of an Arctic cold snap which will see daytime temperatures plunge by 10C and drop to freezing overnight amid snow showers in the north and west.
Chief meteorologist Mark Sidaway said the weather will "take a notable change in direction" over the weekend.
"Very cold Arctic air will move in from the north west through Sunday, bringing snow showers and freezing overnight temperatures," he said.
"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."
The coldest Easter weekend on record was in 2013 when minus 12.5C was recorded at Braemar in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on Easter Sunday.
It comes after Tuesday saw temperatures reach 24C, becoming officially the UK's hottest March day in 50 years.
BBC forecaster Stav Danaos said the warm southwesterly wind which swept across the UK in recent has already been replaced by chillier gales, which will be "noticeable" today.
"But the last dregs of the warm will continue for South Wales, south west England, with 16 to maybe 20 degrees there."
High pressure over the early stages of the Easter weekend will mean plenty of dry and sunny weather, despite the plummeting temperatures, he added.
Good Friday
Overnight into Friday a northeasterly wind will bring temperatures down across the country, though high pressure will keep things stable.
"For Friday, mainly dry thanks to high pressure, there will be more cloud across northern and eastern areas, being brought in on that northeasterly breeze," said the BBC forecaster.
However, the best of the sunshine will be in sheltered southern and western spots, but with highs of only 12 or 13C, which are around the seasonal average.
North East
Cloud will begin to spill down through the day bringing drizzly rain and colder air and a general murky, misty feel.
But the high pressure will keep things mostly dry.
North West
Overnight into Friday temperatures could be as low as -1C, with the bitter air sweeping in.
But by day it is likely to be mostly sunny with highs of 12C in places like Manchester.
Midlands
BBC forecaster Sara Thornton said Friday will be dry and settled but colder than today, with particularly chilly overnight temperatures.
Friday morning will also see some pockets of frost and temperatures will struggle to remain in double figures through the day.
South East
It will be particularly cold on the exposed east Kent coast as winds move in but for much of the region it will remain dry.
A fair bit of cloud will also make things feel cooler and carry the risk of odd showers.
South West
BBC forecaster David Braine said cooler air arriving tomorrow will mean temperatures will sit at around 12C for most in what should be a nice but colder day.
Though temperatures will continually drop into the evening as winds pick up.
Saturday
Saturday sees the remnants of warm weather quickly disappearing, though it will likely remain dry and sunny in spells, before showers and wind picks up.
The Weather Outlook's Brian Gaze said temperatures across the UK will really start to plunge by the evening, dipping below freezing overnight for many.
Met Office meteorologist Clare Nasir said: "Sunshine by day, patchy cloud by night [and] the risk of a frost and light winds."
North East
Saturday will start sunny, but quickly change to cloudy by lunchtime, with temperatures feeling around 5C due to wind chill.
Gales could pick up to around 40mph.
North West
Manchester could see temperatures between 9 and 12C as cloud coverage continues to pick up and winds grow colder, with the chill factor meaning it will feel well into single digits.
There's also some chance of rain, particularly in the afternoon.
Midlands
Temperatures will reach a maximum of 10C in Birmingham, with clouds breaking by midday to give a few hours of sunshine until the evening.
Rain is unlikely.
South East
Even the often mild south east will see the sharp drop in temperatures from Friday, when wind chill will mean temperatures feel like 6-7C by day in London.
Winds will gradually pick up and cloud will increase by early evening.
South West
A sunny start will eventually make way for cloud through into the night, with temperatures never getting above 11C all day.
There's a slight chance of rain and winds will be gentle.
Easter Sunday
Rain is likely on Easter Sunday and there could even be snow in the north and west of the UK, the Met Office warned today, when the ridge of high pressure will have moved away.
Ms Nasir said: "By Easter Sunday we'll see a cold front dragging in Arctic air, with the risk of wintry showers."
The cold front will also bring in gale force winds and bitterly cold air, as well as the possibility of snow which remains into Easter Monday, she added.
North East
Rain will arrive late into the day, as a major dip in temperatures arrives.
It could get wintry overnight into Monday, with sleet and snow.
North West
It'll be sunny and cloudy for much of the day before the rain sets in by the evening.
Snow could fall into Monday morning.
Midlands
Likelihood of rain increases rapidly from around 7pm after a chilly but sunny day.
Snow is a possibility into the early hours of Monday.
South East
A late sweep of cold air will mean temperatures will plummet into the evening, with a chance of sharp frosts.
The likes of London could see highs of 14C in the daytime but the wind chill will mean it feels like single digits, and overnight temperatures could drop below freezing.
South West
Sunny and cloudy with highs of around 12C by 4pm, before rain sets in.
Showers could pick up through the night.
UK 5 day weather forecast
Thursday 1 Apr - Monday 5 Apr
Today:
Cloud across southern Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and central England tending to break to allow sunny spells. Sunny and very warm in the southwest, though breezy. Much cooler elsewhere.
Tonight:
Cloud pushing into north Scotland and east England with good clear spells elsewhere. Frost likely in places, particularly parts of Northern Ireland, southern Scotland and the far north of England.
Friday:
A fine and sunny day for many though more cloud over eastern and northern parts. Breezy in the east and feeling cool along the coasts.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Mostly dry with sunny spells and some overnight frost on Saturday. Becoming much colder and windy with rain followed by showers on Sunday, with showers turning increasingly wintry by Monday.
