The Easter long weekend is usually a time to relax and feast. However, this year the UK is expecting unstable weather, with strong winds, heavy rain and sub-zero temperatures in some areas.
Weather turmoil on the Southern English Coastline
Stormy weather with wind gusts of up to 70mph is expected along the south coast of England. These strong winds are expected to bring heavy showers and hail to mark the start of the Easter weekend.
The Met Office has extended its yellow wind warning to areas from Suffolk to East Sussex and Cornwall. Neil Armstrong, chief forecaster at the Met Office, said wind speeds were increasing as Storm Nelson swept south due to a low pressure system. This system also carries a risk of hail and thunder.
These winds will be accompanied by some heavy showers at times, with the possibility of hail and thunder in some locations, worsening travel conditions,
⚠️ Yellow weather warning updated ⚠️
Strong winds across southern England
Valid until 2359 Thursday
Latest info 👉 https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs
Stay #WeatherAware⚠️ pic.twitter.com/lVa9fPjHY2
— Met Office (@metoffice) March 28, 2024
Rainfall Warning for Northern Ireland
In addition to the wind warning, a yellow rain warning has also been issued for Northern Ireland. An estimated 10 to 20 millimetres of rain is expected to fall, further saturating the ground and increasing the likelihood of travel disruption.
Snowfall in Southwestern England and Wales
Some parts of south-west England and Wales have seen significant snowfall overnight. In West Devon, temperatures plunged to a low of 30 degrees Celsius in Okehampton, while Sennybridge in Powys recorded almost three centimetres of snow.
Weather Conditions During Easter Weekend
Over the Easter weekend, there will be variable weather conditions.
- Saturday: Rain and sunshine
Scattered showers will continue overnight, mainly along the west and south coasts - but they will become more isolated on Saturday, mainly in the west. Parts of the east of the UK could remain dry throughout the day.
Periods of bright sunshine will make for a warm day, with wind speeds well below those of previous days. Highs of 15°C are possible in south-east England and around 13°C in northern England and eastern Scotland.
- Sunday: Continuation of the Theme
The pattern of showers will continue on Sunday, with the south-west being the worst affected. After a cool start, the day should warm up, with highs of 16°C in central and southern England and 15°C in the north-west.
Dan Harris, Deputy Head of Metrology, commented on the situation :
The weather is expected to gradually improve following the widely unsettled spell of the past few days, with a fairly typical mix of spring-like weather across the UK. There will be some sunshine, and it will feel increasingly warm for most as the winds become lighter. However, the west and especially south-west is likely to see passing showers too, which could be quite heavy and frequent at times.
- Monday: Rain Could Return
The beginning of the week should be mostly sunny, particularly in the north of the UK, with maximum sunshine in the north-west of Scotland. However, there is a risk of precipitation in the south and south-east of England, which could spread across the whole of England and Wales.
Further Ahead
Looking further ahead into the week, Tuesday is forecasted to be a largely dry day with light winds. However, there could be a few scattered showers in parts of the south. The weather details for Tuesday remain largely uncertain at this point.