UK weather forecast: Warm and dry Easter weekend 'likely' after chilly start to week, says Met Office

Temperatures could climb as high as 22C over bank holiday weekend

Britain is set to bask in warm sunshine over the Easter weekend, with the Met Office predicting a steady rise in temperatures after a chilly start to next week.

Highs of 22C are “not out of the question” during the bank holiday weekend, according to the weather service’s meteorologist – as Easter Sunday emerges as potentially the hottest day of the year so far.

However, the balmy spring conditions will follow a cold start to Monday. Some parts of the West Midlands, East Midlands and Scotland are expected to dip below zero degrees overnight.

“We’re still in the cold air at the moment and quite a few places across central England and parts of Scotland could start with a frost,” said Sophie Yeoman, meteorologist at the Met Office.

After the cold spell finally clears, temperatures are expected to improve each day as the weekend approaches.

Highs of 13C on Monday could turn to temperatures in the low 20s by Thursday, according to the Met Office.

The weather is also set to become drier and brighter between Tuesday and Thursday, despite some rain in western parts of the country on Tuesday.

The optimistic outlook is in contrast with some reports warning of an Easter “washout” over next weekend.

Ms Yeoman said that although some computer predictions show there is a chance of cloudy spells – with the greatest risk of overcast conditions on Easter Sunday and bank holiday Monday – warm weather is more likely over most of the long weekend.

“There is a lot of uncertainty around so that’s why different reports sound conflicting,” she said.

“However, it is looking more likely to be warmer, dryer conditions. Temperatures in the low 20s – like 21C or 22C – are not out of the question.”

The average temperature for Easter Sunday is around 14C.