New month, same cold almost wintry weather. Seems a bit of a joke to have ice and snow showers after the super spring sunshine of March. What's the UK weather for April 1st
As we move into April, the end of March cold Arctic air is still with us. Snow showers should seem like a joke but here we are after some fabulous spring weather in March, sitting in a cold north wind with ice and occasional wintry flurries.
Now, there is wintry and windy weather extending through Europe as the cold front that started all this for the UK, continues its route southwards. Anyone escaping to the Alps, Italy, Croatia even Greece for an early Easter break will be caught up in a large low pressure bringing strong winds and rain.
Meteo France "Unusual snowy episode for early spring, significant enough to disrupt traffic. snowfalls will be accompanied by a sensitive or strong wind, clearly accentuating the feeling of cold.” Sounds rather chilly for Poisson d’Avril.
So back at home for April 1st, it's another cold start with frost and ice. There are three precipitation areas. One similar to Thursday, a feed of wintry showers from the North Sea. Overnight they will have included more snow but by day, a mix of icy rain, hail and sleet. A little snow on the hills. There is a frontal band heading to NW Scotland and showers being thrown off the low pressure over central Europe, which continues to plague SE England. Around that low, it is also windy
The brisk north wind will make East Anglia and SE, southern England feel extra cold. These southeast showers just keep on going through Friday. The showers off the North Sea push further inland with a few more developing through the day. High pressure away to the west will be enough to stop the rash that broke out on Thursday.
The frontal band in the far northwest will bring less cold air as the winds back to a westerly. It will still feel nippy, but the air over eastern Britain is from the Arctic rather than the Atlantic. As the front reaches the NW Highlands it will fall as snow. The Scottish ski resorts haven’t had a good season. These late in the day bits don’t look to make too much difference. It will fall as rain once it reaches Northern Ireland late in the day.
A few sheltered sunny spots will see 9 or 10C but for most, it will be cold again at 4 to 7C. Even if it looks fine out of the window, don’t be fooled this morning, it’s cold out there.
Top image - East Lothian lighthouse M. McNeil
