Heavy rain and strong winds to replace Easter sunshine

The Met Office has issued two yellow warnings for wind covering western and southern areas from Tuesday.

Gales of up to 60mph and heavy downpours are due to hit western parts of the UK from Tuesday, forecasters have warned (Jonathan Brady/PA) (PA Wire)

Gales of up to 60mph and heavy downpours are due to hit western parts of the UK from Tuesday, forecasters have warned.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for wind covering the west coast and Northern Ireland for 12 hours from 3pm on Tuesday.

A second identical warning is in place for south-west England and south Wales throughout Wednesday.

From Monday to Wednesday, much of the country will also be doused with sporadic showers.

Temperatures are predicted to range from around 11C (51.8F) in northern Scotland to 16C (60.8F) in the south of England during this period.

The Environment Agency has issued seven “flood alerts” for scattered areas in southern England where flooding is “possible”.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Steven Keates said the worst of the wind and rain is expected on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday.

He said: “There’s a distinct possibility of some disruptive wind for parts of the UK, especially in southern and western areas, as well as potential for heavy rainfall and even some snow, though the latter probably confined to high ground in the north.

“Although subject to a large degree of uncertainty, gusts of wind could be in excess of 60mph in some exposed upland or coastal regions, with around 35mm (1.4in) to 50mm (2in) of rain possible for some areas.”

This comes after temperatures dropped on Monday, following a balmy Easter Bank Holiday when the UK was hotter than Rome.

A high of 17.3C (63.14F) was recorded in Chertsey, Surrey – only slightly cooler than the hottest temperature of the year of 17.8C (64.04F), recorded in Santon Downham, Suffolk, on March 30.