Temperature are set to plummet to a chilly -7C tonight with six inches of snow due in Scotland as Arctic winds bring a bitter end to the UK’s mini heatwave.
Britons have been basking in highs of 18C (64.4F) on the first Sunday since outdoor gatherings of up to six people, or two full households, were allowed under Boris Johnson’s roadmap out of lockdown.
But the sweltering temperatures are set to dramatically plummet on Easter Monday to just 2C in the south of England.
Meanwhile, sub-zero temperatures can be expected in parts of northern England and the mercury could drop to -7C in some areas of Scotland.
And the weather is unlikely to let up later in the week, with widespread snow showers expected in Scotland. Southern England will be blasted by wintry showers on Tuesday before the rain moves north.
Met Office forecaster Sarah Kent said: ‘We will see this plunge of much colder conditions coming in. It’s Arctic maritime air, which does mean it’s coming from the Arctic.
‘So it’s going to be cold for everybody, but also windy too. The wind chill is going to be significant.’
Snow warnings are in place for northern Scotland, with as much as 5.9 inches falling in higher areas.
The Met Office’s yellow warnings are in place from 4pm on Sunday until 10am on Tuesday for Scotland, with winds of up to 70mph forecast.
Coastal areas of eastern England, parts of Wales and Northern Ireland could also see snow showers on Easter Monday.
Southern England can expect to see some sunshine and highs of 7C later in the day, but gusts of up to 30mph will make the temperature ‘feel like’ -1C, Ms Kent said.
Temperature are set to plummet to a chilly -7C tonight with six inches of snow due in Scotland as Arctic winds bring a bitter end to the UK’s mini heatwave. Pictured: People enjoying the warm weather in London on Sunday
Sub-zero temperatures can be expected in parts of northern England and the mercury could drop to -7C in some areas of Scotland on Monday (left). And the weather is unlikely to let up later in the week (Tuesday’s weather, right), with widespread snow showers expected in Scotland. Southern England will be blasted by wintry showers on Tuesday before the rain moves north
Met Office forecaster Sarah Kent said: ‘We will see this plunge of much colder conditions coming in. It’s Arctic maritime air, which does mean it’s coming from the Arctic’
This weekend’s sweltering highs are set to dramatically plummet on Easter Monday to just 2C in the south of England (Monday’s predicted temperatures)
Parts of the UK saw the mercury reach nearly 24C (75.2F) on Wednesday, a balmy high unlikely to be repeated on Easter Sunday.
Meteorologist Ms Kent said: ‘Today is a lovely day for an Easter egg hunt in the back garden, whereas tomorrow if you were doing one you’d probably want to wear three jumpers.’
The dire snow forecast came as people flocked to parks and public spaces, including Liverpool’s Sefton Park and Stratford-upon-Avon, in Warwickshire, to enjoy the sunshine on Easter Sunday.
Many opted to enjoy outdoor barbecues and picnics, while others took the warm weather as an opportunity for a refreshing dip in the sea.
As the Easter sunshine brings a feel of normality it is expected Boris Johnson will announce nine pilot events that are being held over the next few weeks to help policy makers decide how best to unlock Britain.
The large-scale events – to be held in April and May – will trial testing attendees for Covid before and after taking place rather than requiring individuals to have a vaccine passport.
It will be tested at a comedy club, cinema, nightclub and business conference arena in Liverpool next week.
Some fans will be allowed at Wembley for the Carabao Cup final on April 25, the FA Cup final on May 15 and the semi-finals on April 18.
The World Snooker Championship in Sheffield and a mass participation run in Hatfield, Herts, will also go ahead with crowds to test the scheme.
Visitors on the beach looking up to the top of the limestone arch waiting for the base jumpers to leap off. This is the shocking moment two daredevils jumped off the top of the Durdle Door arch using parachutes, Lulworth in Dorset
Crowds are seen flowing the path to and from the beach in Durdle Door, Lulworth, Dorset on Easter Sunday
Visitors flock to Durdle Door in Dorset on a day of warm spring sunshine and a cool breeze during Easter Sunday
Visitors flock to Durdle Door in Dorset on a day of warm spring sunshine and a cool breeze during Easter Sunday
Temperatures across the UK are expected to plummet as we head through the Easter weekend though, with the cold snap threatening snow in some areas on Monday
A couple are seen walking a dog on Sandbanks beach, Dorset, in the early morning sun this Easter Sunday
Sports minister Nigel Huddleston confirmed the plans this afternoon, adding: ‘It is not just about certification actually, in fact the earlier programmes, the earlier pilots almost certainly won’t involve any element of certification but it will involve testing, making sure people are tested before and after the event.
‘What we will be looking at is the mitigation measures, so the ventilation, one-way systems, hygiene measures, all of those kind of things to help inform long term decision making.’
Meanwhile Tory civil liberties campaigner and former minister David Davis today blasted the idea of passports.
He said he agreed with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer that they were ‘un-British’, telling LBC radio: ‘We wouldn’t do this for flu, flu can kill up to 25,000 people a year.
‘Vaccines will reduce this illness to killing a lot less than that every year, then we will have to accommodate it, but not by giving up our basic freedoms.’
He said he agreed with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer that they were ‘un-British’, telling LBC radio: ‘We wouldn’t do this for flu, flu can kill up to 25,000 people a year.
Two men are seen on the top of Durdle door with parachutes, preparing to jump towards the water
One of the base jumpers with a yellow parachute leaps off the limestone arch and into the sea while his mate waits at the top
Both base jumpers swim to the beach at Durdle Door where they are helped by a friend. The base jumpers stunned members of the public out for an Easter Sunday walk in the warm weather by ascending the 200ft tall landmark on the Dorset coast
Durdle Door beach in Dorset is busy with people enjoying the sunshine on Easter Sunday
The Hot Walls in Old Portsmouth proved popular today, Easter Sunday, as the Spring sun shone in Hampshire
Friends Roisin, Aislin and Gillian made the most of the weather on Easter Sunday as they met up on Wimbledon Common
‘Vaccines will reduce this illness to killing a lot less than that every year, then we will have to accommodate it, but not by giving up our basic freedoms.’
It comes as the UK’s Covid-19 statistics continue to plummet as the country begins to take slow steps out of lockdown.
Today’s data shows a further ten people died after testing positive for Covid-19 in a 47 per cent drop on last Sunday – but Wales and Northern Ireland’s data is not included due to Easter delays.
Today is the second day in a row that just ten deaths have been recorded, marking the lowest daily death toll since September.
The Government’s official data also revealed a further 2,297 people tested positive for coronavirus today, a 40.5 per cent drop on last week.
Runners enjoy the sun in Sandbanks, Dorset, where hundreds have taken to the beach to soak up the Easter Sunday rays
People flocked to beaches during Bank Holiday as a sea of cars parked near the Storey Arms in the Brecon Beacons on Sunday
Visitors flock to Durdle Door on a day of warm sunshine during Easter Sunday. The main car park is packed with vehicles
Brave individuals take a dip in the sea on Sandbanks beach in Dorset, despite top temperatures only reaching 64.4F (18C)
A couple relaxed in Wimbledon Common in south London during the spring sunshine on the balmy Bank Holiday weekend
But cases and deaths figures over Easter will be affected by incomplete data and a longer-than-usual lag in reporting.
Northern Ireland and Wales’ didn’t report any deaths or cases because of the delays.
As Britain sees its first weekend since lockdown rules were relaxed to allow outdoor mixing in groups of six, Britain’s vaccine total triumphantly hit 36,904,755 yesterday.
A further 97,328 people were given their first dose, while 176,240 were given their second.
April is expected to the be a month of second doses because millions are due their second jab as the 12 week deadline approaches.
