UK weather: April showers and falling temperatures forecast as coronavirus lockdown enters sixth week

Unsettled conditions expected to persist for rest of month and into May

One of the warmest Aprils on record is set to end with heavy rainfall and falling temperatures that could reach as low as 1C in parts of the UK this week.

Conditions are expected to worsen as a weather cell sweeps in from the Atlantic, bringing scattered showers, low cloud and even frost in Scotland, according to the Met Office.

It comes after a weekend that saw London reach 24C amid the nationwide coronavirus lockdown.

Tuesday was due to be “cloudy across much of England and Wales”, the Met Office said, “with outbreaks of rain moving northwards, heavy in places, and feeling chilly. Brighter across Scotland and Northern Ireland with just a few showers.” The Midlands and Wales could see 30mm of rain in just 24 hours.

“Heavy bursts” of rain and winds of up to 50mph in the west are also forecast for Wednesday. Much of Scotland will remain dry until Wednesday evening, when the mercury could fall to 1C in the Highlands. Across the UK, the mercury is unlikely to rise above 13C during the day.

The weather will stay unsettled for much of the week, with rain also forecast for Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and even into next week.

Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said: “So on the final day of April, we will actually have a day of April showers across many parts of the UK.

“A much different picture from last week where places have just seen blue skies and sunshine.”

A Met Office statement said: “Looking slightly ahead into the beginning of May, the unsettled theme is likely to continue as Atlantic weather systems bring further bands of rain across to many areas, particularly in the south and the west of the UK.

“Although the southwest is most likely to see the wettest of these conditions, there should still be some brighter and showery spells in between these frontal systems.

“Temperatures should remain around average, but with the potential for some warmer days in the east.

“Towards the end of this period, although confidence is low, there are some signs that more settled conditions may return.”

The poor weather comes as the UK’s lockdown continues into its sixth week.