A cold snap is set to bring chilly and windy conditions to the UK for the weekend, after parts of England and Scotland saw hail and snow on Wednesday.
Fuelled by Arctic winds, temperatures remained between 5C and 10C but felt more like freezing, with the Met Office warning that unsettled weather will continue in the coming days.
On Wednesday night, snow also settled across parts of Scotland, reaching depths of 6cm in Tulloch Bridge and 2cm in Aviemore.
Hail and icy pellets were seen in London and Devon, with scattered showers across the country.
By Thursday daytime, strong northwesterly winds carrying the colder Arctic air were expected to shift to a milder west or southwesterly flow.
While there will be sunny intervals, cloud and rain are set to push into Northern Ireland and western parts of the UK, but it will feel less cold.
Temperatures are due to return to average on Friday, between 7C and 13C, but those hoping for a sunny weekend will be sorely mistaken, as wintry showers and patchy rain are predicted.
Met Office deputy chief forecaster Steven Keates said: “After a spell of mild and brighter weather, the UK will turn increasingly unsettled in the coming days. A series of weather fronts will bring periods of rain, strong winds and much colder air by midweek.”
Temperatures are set to range from 6C to 10C, but will feel closer to single figures due to the wind.
“It should be a little milder again by the end of the week, with many areas seeing another spell of rain on Friday,” he added.
British Summer Time (BST) also begins on Sunday, with the clocks jumping an hour forward to gain another hour of daylight.
Looking ahead to next week, drier and more settled conditions are more likely in the south of England, while some colder interludes and wintry showers are likely in the North.
Met Office five-day weather forecast
Thursday
Any wintry showers in northeast Scotland will ease during the early morning. Most areas stay dry and bright before clouds, rain, and strengthening winds reach Northern Ireland and western Scotland later. Milder than Wednesday, but still feeling rather cold.
Overnight
A milder night with widespread cloud and rain, heavy over western hills. The southeast may stay clearer with patchy frost. Clearer skies and showers reach northwest Scotland later.
Friday
Rain returns on Friday and pushes southeastwards through the day. Sunnier skies in the North, but cooler once again with some wintry showers and stronger gusts of winds.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday
Saturday brings sunny spells and showers, wintry and windy further North. Sunday sees heavy rain then brighter, showery, windy weather. Monday is mostly dry before cloud and patchy rain return.
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