UK weather forecast: Heavy rain and snow flurries expected after 17C highs

Arrival of "chilly" easterly wind from North Sea will divide the country in two

Heavy rain and snow flurries along with unseasonably warm temperatures will hit the UK as the unsettled spring weather continues across the country.

Met Office forecasters are predicting the arrival of cold easterly winds from the North Sea will divide the country in two – with cooler temperatures expected in northern areas and milder, wetter conditions in the south.

The weekend will see the warmest weather in the most areas with highs of up to 17C expected in the southwest and plenty of dry and bright spells.

But it will feel cloudy and cooler in the northeast and Scotland, with patchy rain over Edinburgh and the east cost.

A dry day is expected on Monday across the north with some sunny spells, but it will be cloudier in the south with scattered showers.

A band of rain will move across England on Tuesday, covering much of the south. It will also bring heavy rain in South Wales, although the north of England and north Wales are expected to be sunnier and drier.

There is a particular risk of heavy showers in the southeast with some overnight frosts.

A blast of cold easterly air from the North Sea could see some snow flurries in northern areas after Thursday, but no significant accumulation is expected.

Temperatures across the country are expected to range between 7C and 10C over the course of next week.

After the cold spell, temperatures will gradually return to the seasonal average, with some warmer weather expected in the south and southeast.

The mixed conditions come after a spell of cold weather that saw heavy hail and snow hit parts of the country.

Commuters faced severe delays on Thursday morning after rail companies blamed icy conditions for cancelled services.

Snow fell in parts of South Wales amid a yellow warning for the region from the Met Office, which remained in place until late Thursday morning.

Met Office meteorologist Marco Petagna told The Independent: “We will see a north/south split from Tuesday with colder, dryer weather in northern areas and milder and wetter weather in the south. The rain sweeping across southern areas could turn heavy at times.

“And the chilly, easterly wind from the North Sea will bring cooler conditions in the north and north eastern regions. Snow flurries are a possibility in these areas.”