IT could be a white Easter this year as snow is on the way – following a gloriously warm end to February.
Colder spells will grip the UK and are likely to remain until mid March, with Atlantic frontal systems introducing colder and wetter weather than usual for the time of year.
Met Office forecaster Graham Madge said: "A white Easter is more likely than a white Christmas.
"It’s possible that we could get snow in March, in fact, it's more likely we will get snow in March than in December."
Flocks of people have lapped up the sunshine over the weekend as weeks of rain and chilly temperatures were met with glorious temperatures in the mid teens.
Follow our weather live blog below for the latest news and updates from around the country
- Hana Carter
WINTERS ARE CHANGING
Dr Mark McCarthy is the head of the Met Office National Climate Information Centre.
He said: “Our winters are changing and as we have seen we can still receive cold snaps; it’s just that those extremes won’t be quite as cold or as frequent as they once would have been.”
- Hana Carter
WHEN IS HAY FEVER SEASON IN THE UK?
Tree pollen occurs first, typically from late March to mid-May, and affects around 25 per cent of people.
Most people are allergic to grass pollen (which actually has two peaks) and the season lasts from mid-May until July.
Weed pollen can be released at any time but the season typically covers the end of June to September.
- Hana Carter
THURSDAY TO FRIDAY FORECAST
It will be a touch cooler on Thursday but it will continue to be dull with cloudy skies and mist slow to clear.
A few spots of light rain or drizzle, however most areas will remain dry.
Friday will be generally dry but dull with cloudy skies however brighter and sunny spells will develop at times
- Hana Carter
LANCASHIRE SUNSET
Another stunning sunset over Lancashire as people enjoy the last glimpse of sun behind Rivington PikeCredit: Mercury Press - Alice Fuller
FEBRUARY WAS MONTH OF TWO HALVES
Dr Mark McCarthy, head of the Met Office's National Climate Information Centre, said it was a month of two halves.
He said: "February 2021 has seen a wide temperature range resulting from the two predominant weather patterns.
"The first half of February saw some bitterly cold easterlies originating from Russia.
"Recent days have seen the influence of air coming from the Canary Islands."
- Alice Fuller
COLD IS COMING
Widespread frosts are set to take a firm hold with -5C nights on the cards amid the latest Arctic blast.
Met Office forecaster Dean Hall said: "It's going to turn much colder by the end of the week.
"An Arctic air mass is moving in from Iceland, drawing in colder north easterly winds. It'll lead to overnight frosts quite widely.
"It will, however, remain dry and settled, just pretty chilly.
"We're looking at day-time temperatures for most of between 6C and 8C."
- Alice Fuller
TONIGHT'S FORECAST
The Met Office said: "Low cloud becoming more extensive again, with some areas of thick fog developing across eastern and central England.
"Clearer skies and frost in the north-west. Showers into south-western parts."
- Hana Carter
FLOOD ALERTS IN PLACE
25 flood alerts and one flood warning are in place across England.
The one flood warning is expected in the River Burn from South Creake to Burnham Thrope.
The alerts are mainly in the south and south east.
- Hana Carter
SUNSET RUN
A runner jogs along the Liverpool waterfront during a hazy sunset this evening after another day of fine weather todayCredit: Mercury Press
- Hana Carter
DULL START TO THE DAY TOMORROW
A dull start to the day with thick cloud cover and early patches of mist and fog will be slow to lift and clear during the morning.
Rather cloudy during the day although bright spells will develop for some.
A threat of showers across Wales and southern and central England, some may be heavy.
- Hana Carter
TODAY'S WEATHER ROUND UP
- Hana Carter
HIGHEST AND LOWEST WINTER TEMPS BOTH SEEN IN FEB
We have seen the highest and lowest temperatures of the winter season in February.
Cold conditions from the east brought low temperatures down to the lowest of -23C at Braemar, Aberdeenshire, on February 11.
The cold spell was followed by a southerly flow bringing warm weather from the Canaries and Africa leading to the season’s highest temperature of 18.4C at Santon Downham, Suffolk, on February 24.
- Hana Carter
THURSDAY TO SATURDAY FORECAST
Showery rain clearing the south then fine and dry with sunny spells. Cold with some hard night frosts.
Cloud and rain pushing into the far northwest later Saturday.
- Hana Carter
CHILLY NIGHT FOR MOST THIS EVENING
- Hana Carter
WEDNESDAY FORECAST
Showers in south-west moving further north-east into Wales and central and southern England, some heavy towards the west.
Low cloud and fog slow to lift across central and eastern areas.
- Hana Carter
THIS EVENING'S TEMPERATURES
- Hana Carter
SURFS UP!
A Paddleboarder on the beach enjoying the warm hazy sunshine at the seaside resort of Sidmouth in DevonCredit: ©Graham Hunt - Chiara Fiorillo
DAYS ARE GETTING LONGER
Over the next week, we gain about 25 minutes of daylight.
It may be still cold outside, but sunrise is getting earlier as we head towards summer.
The days will continue to get brighter until the Summer Solstice on June 21, 2021.
- Chiara Fiorillo
ARCTIC AIR MASS MOVING IN FROM ICELAND
Met Office forecaster Dean Hall said: "It's going to turn much colder by the end of the week.
"An Arctic air mass is moving in from Iceland, drawing in colder north easterly winds. It'll lead to overnight frosts quite widely.
"It will, however, remain dry and settled, just pretty chilly.
"We're looking at day-time temperatures for most of between 6C and 8C."
- Chiara Fiorillo
EXERCISING BY THE SEA
People out exercising on the busy seafront enjoying the warm hazy sunshine at the seaside resort of Sidmouth in Devon.
Other areas of the UK have been experiencing cloudy conditions today.
Temperatures have turned colder.
People out exercising in Sidmouth, DevonCredit: ©Graham Hunt - Chiara Fiorillo
WHEN IS HAY FEVER SEASON IN THE UK?
Tree pollen occurs first, typically from late March to mid-May, and affects around 25 per cent of people.
Most people are allergic to grass pollen (which actually has two peaks) and the season lasts from mid-May until July.
Weed pollen can be released at any time but the season typically covers the end of June to September.
- Chiara Fiorillo
TURNING COLDER
The weather is turning colder this weekend after Brits experienced warm temperatures last week.
Here is the forecast for the next few days.
- Chiara Fiorillo
FORECAST FOR TOMORROW
The Met Office's forecast for tomorrow says: "Showers in south-west moving further north-east into Wales and central and southern England, some heavy towards the west.
"Low cloud and fog slow to lift across central and eastern areas."
- Chiara Fiorillo
COLD WEEKEND
Temperatures at the weekend will be freezing for some.
In some areas, they could be as low as -10C.
- Chiara Fiorillo
COLD FRONT ON THE WAY
Temperatures will reach the low teens in the warmest spots today and tomorrow.
However, a cold front will bring a change on Thursday.
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