Easter weather forecast: Met Office warns of Bank Holiday washout for MILLIONS – but will you escape it?
MILLIONS of Brits are being warned they could face a Bank Holiday washout.
With the four-day weekend just around the corner, much of the country was hoping for sunny spells and warmer temperatures.
Wednesday was the official first day of spring but brighter conditions were nowhere to be seen – with snow predicted to blanket parts, says the weather service.
Temperatures have plummeted to 3C in northern England and Scotland over the past few days along with heavy downpours making an appearance.
The Environment Agency has issued four flood warnings and 66 alerts in the last 24 hours following concerns over showers.
And as we head towards the the Easter Bank Holiday, forecasters are not hopeful the weather will improve.
A spokesperson for the Met Office said it will be “unsettled across the majority of the UK” next week.
Strong gusts of winds and intense rain is expected to batter Brits in the run-up to the mini break.
The weather service said: “Through the bank holiday weekend and into the following week, unsettled or changeable weather remains the most likely outcome.
“All areas are likely to see further rain or showers at times, with some drier spells in between, but wet weather will tend to favour the southwest while northern parts remain a bit drier on average.”
The Met’s long-range forecast however could change between now and Good Friday on March 29.
It comes after Meteorologist Alex Deakin said “hail storms” are likely to hit soon.
He today said: “I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t catch a hail storm at some point.
“Rumbles of thunder, flashes of lightning are as possible as the showers come and go through the day.
“It’ll be one of those days where one minute it’s fine and the next minute you’ve got a downpour.”
The weather is expected to calm down a little bit before Sunday though, as it will be brighter and a lot drier for most before next week.
A spokesperson for the Met Office told The Sun: “Over the weekend we are likely to see a mix of sunshine and blustery showers, with some of these showers a wintry mix of rain, sleet, hail and snow.
“Any snowfall is generally going to be confined to higher ground in the north, with lower levels seeing a mix of rain, sleet and hail.
“Any lying snow will most likely be restricted to high ground in Scotland and possibly high ground in the far north of England.
“The main impacts for most people will be that it will be feeling much colder than it currently is feeling with a return of some overnight frosts.”
Met Office long-range forecast
LONG-range forecast from Tuesday 26 March - Thursday 4 April
Unsettled across the majority of the UK next week, with spells of rain or showers for most, if not all, areas, strong winds in places and temperatures near to a little below normal for late March.
Perhaps staying relatively drier in the north, with some wintry showers possible in the far north of Scotland.
Through the bank holiday weekend and into the following week, unsettled or changeable weather remains the most likely outcome.
All areas are likely to see further rain or showers at times, with some drier spells in between, but wet weather will tend to favour the southwest while northern parts remain a bit drier on average.
Temperatures will probably continue near normal for the time of year.