UK weather: Easter Monday snow warning for millions from ‘Arctic trough’

By Monday, temperatures in London may drop to 8C, Manchester 7C and Leeds a chilly 5C following a short-lived heatwave

Yellow weather warnings issued by the Met Office are in place from 6pm tonight until midnight on Monday, as forecasters warned nowhere is “immune” from wintry showers this week.

Weather warnings have been issued in northern parts of Scotland, where gale-force winds and heavy snowfall of up to 15cm are forecast this Easter Monday.

The UK is entering an “Arctic trough” following a short-lived heatwave early this week, which saw temperatures in some parts of England reaching 50-year highs for the time of year. 

Craig Snell, forecaster for the Met Office, said that “nowhere is going to be immune” from potential snowfall and wintry showers, though any snow is unlikely to stay. 

By Monday, temperatures in London may drop to 8C, Manchester 7C and Leeds a chilly 5C.

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The cold weather is not unusual for this time of year, Mr Snell said, but may come as a “shock to the system” after last week’s taste of summer.

The cold snap comes as lockdown restrictions are eased, with police urging the public not to break any rules over the bank holiday weekend.

Boris Johnson, the prime minister, also warned the public not to meet indoors, even if everyone had been vaccinated, saying the country was “not there yet”.