The Met Office has warned that wintry showers, including snow, hail, sleet and thunder, could hit almost anywhere in the UK over the next 36 hours as an Arctic air mass moves south. Northern Scotland saw snow on Monday morning, and the cold weather is expected to spread into England.
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said the Arctic air would bring large thunderclouds, leading to hailstorms, thunder and lightning, as well as possible sleet and snow flurries. While snow is most likely on northern hills, wintry showers could develop across the country, though any snow is unlikely to settle on lower ground.
Madge noted that night-time temperatures would drop sharply, with widespread frosts expected, particularly inland. He advised gardeners and horticulturalists to take precautions. Daytime temperatures, however, are not expected to be severe.
Despite the sudden cold snap, Madge said late April snow is not unusual, but the contrast with a very mild March—the fifth mildest since 1910—may surprise many. The Met Office expects warmer weather to return by the end of the week.
