Snow, hail and thunder could hit the UK from today before temperatures are sent plummeting to -3C this weekend.
Experts at the Met Office are predicting today (Wednesday) , the south-east will be bright and mild, but wintry showers are expected further north and in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with heavy rain, snow, hail and thunder possible.
In a topsy-turvy outlook for the country, mild weather further south could simultaneously bring the warmest day of the year.
The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: “The 18C warmest days of the year are possible before the chill, as floods finally ease.”
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And there's more bad news for families who are self-isolating, who might want to get the kids into the garden, this weekend is expected to be much colder, with fine and bright weather, but chilly nights bringing widespread frost.
Met Office forecaster John Griffiths told the Mirror : “Temperatures will be the mildest this year, with a chance of 17C on Tuesday or Wednesday in the South.
“But colder air from near Norway and then from the Baltic Sea spills across the whole country by Friday, until Sunday.
“-3C could be seen in the South and North, with widespread frost and some wintry showers over the North and East.
“But there will be plenty of dry spells this week with much lighter rain than previous weeks. And ahead looks to remain drier, with plenty of sunshine for most.”
In Bristol, residents should wake to a dry start but things will turn wet by lunchtime when there's 50 per cent chance of rain.
Temperatures will hover around 11C for most of the day.
Wednesday:
Showery across Scotland and Northern Ireland, with some heavy showers, hill snow and possible hail and thunder. Rain and drizzle slowly edging southwards but the far southeast bright and mild.
Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:
Sunny spells and wintry showers in the north Thursday; cloudy in the far south. Fine and dry elsewhere, these conditions spreading to most areas by Saturday. Cold with night frost.
