Winter to return this weekend and spring is put on hold as bitter chill brings snow and deep freeze that will feel like -4C
- Met Office is warning of high pressure systems from the Atlantic and northern Europe crossing towards UK
- Clear skies will bring harsh frosts amid warnings showers could turn wintry even across southern England
- Temperatures will start to fall on Friday afternoon, the Met Office warns, as cold air from the north arrives
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An Arctic plume from Scandanavia will send temperatures plummeting across the United Kingdom this weekend as forecasters warn of freezing temperatures and the possibility of snow.
The Met Office is warning of high pressure systems from the Atlantic and northern Europe crossing towards the eastern parts of the UK from Friday afternoon.
Clear skies will bring harsh frosts on Sunday morning amid warnings showers could turn wintry even across southern England – with temperatures expected to feel around -4C by Monday.
Temperatures will start to fall on Friday afternoon, the Met Office warns, as cold air from the north sweeps across eastern parts of the UK.
The Met Office is warning of high pressure systems from the Atlantic and northern Europe crossing towards the eastern parts of the UK from Friday afternoon
Clear skies will bring harsh frosts on Sunday morning (left) amid warnings showers could turn wintry even across southern England – with temperatures expected to feel around -4C by Monday (right)
Clear and sunny skies will mean temperatures plummet over the weekend as high pressure moves in from northern Europe
A spokesman for the Met Office said: ‘The fine weather for many parts of the UK is due to the area of high pressure over Europe.
‘Due to the position of this high, warm air has spread across most parts. This high will push eastwards, as another area of high pressure develops towards the west of the UK.
‘This area of high pressure is exceptionally high, especially for the time of year. This will bring a cold, northerly flow to the UK. As a result it will turn colder this weekend.’
Temperatures will start to dip on Friday after a period of warmer weather across the UK.
Clare Nasir, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: ‘By Friday afternoon there will be a cold wind coming in from the North Sea. It will certainly feeling a lot colder across the eastern side of the country.
‘Temperatures will generally will be a bit lower. High pressure will build across the north-west of the United Kingdom and drag in some very cold air across much of the country.
‘And with that and a strong wind towards the east could bring in a few wintry showers. Particularly for the eastern side of England. This will also affect the far north and east of Scotland.’
A spokesman for the Met Office said the area of high pressure is exceptionally high, especially for the time of year and will send temperatures plummeting over the weekend
Temperatures will start to dip on Friday after a period of warmer weather across the UK (pictured, Met Office meteorologist Clare Nasir describes the upcoming weather)
Colder weather is expected across much of the country and there are hopes the change in weather might drive people away from parks and public spaces after concerns Britons were not taking self-isolation seriously.
Warmer weather this week saw police break up a house party in Coventry in the early hours of Thursday where a dozen revellers were flouting the ban on social gatherings of more than two people.
The incident followed West Midlands Police neighbourhood officers having to disperse a crowd of 20 people who had gathered for a barbecue in the Foleshill area of the same city earlier this week on Tuesday.
But on Friday temperatures are expected to dip as colder weather sweeps in from the north.
Joggers go for a run at a park in London today in the morning sunshine as the Prime Minister warned Britons to stay at home
A lady runs through daffodils at Sefton Park in Liverpool after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered a UK lockdown
Forecaster Bonnie Diamond told MailOnline: ‘Things then change heading into the weekend, with a north easterly wind flow making it feel colder and temperatures dropping a few degrees compared to this week.
‘Saturday will see cloudier skies mixed with brighter spells. It will be cloudier across Wales and northern England, with a chance of wintery showers in East Scotland and north east England.
‘There is a risk of frost and possible icy patches over the weekend so if key workers are still travelling they may need to scrape their windscreens.’
Ahead of the weekend chill forecasters said temperatures could hit 17C (63F) today, prompting fears people could spend longer outdoors than they are allowed.
Yesterday, police were seen dispersing Britons gathered in parks and other public places across the UK amid strict advice to stay at home.
In Shepherd’s Bush in West London, people soaked up the sun, seemingly oblivious to the tight restrictions imposed by the government on Monday. Police were seen telling them to leave and go home.
Others were seen enjoying the weather at Battersea Park in south-west London, on the beach in Portsmouth and in the sea off Eastbourne.