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Britain could be in for a 'white Easter' as icy temperatures return, forecasters predict

Britain hasn’t seen the last of the cold blast, with wintry showers and below-average temperatures set to return over Easter.

Forecasters are warning of the chance of a ‘White Easter’ as cold Arctic air moves down the country during the Bank Holiday weekend.

The icy blast comes after the country was crippled by the ‘Beast from the East’ a few weeks ago and its smaller sibling, dubbed the ‘Mini Beast from the East’ at the weekend.

Forecaster Katie Greening, of The Weather Channel, said bitterly cold Polar air is expected to trigger a cool period across Britain during the end of March into the beginning of April.

She said: “Snow in April? Yes, correct! A fast moving Atlantic low will merge with a deeper, slow-moving polar low to form a broad upper trough over the North Sea area from March 28.

<em>Mini ‘Beast from the East’ – forecasters predict more cold weather over the Easter weekend (Pictures: PA)</em>
Mini ‘Beast from the East’ – forecasters predict more cold weather over the Easter weekend (Pictures: PA)

She added: “This upper low will linger over Europe, sparking an unsettled, windy and cool period across the near continent during the last few days of March into early April.

“A series of lows will move around the upper low, pulling cold polar air into circulation over Europe on a brisk northerly breeze.”

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She went on: “It’ll become unsettled with temperatures set to lower once more and precipitation falling in the form of snow over north-western and central Europe.”

According to the Weather Channel, the coldest days are expected to be from March 31 to April 2 with temperatures remaining in the low single figures by day and plunging below freezing by night, along with wind chill that will make it feel even colder.

<em>Forecast – even more snow is possible later in April, the Met Office predicted</em>
Forecast – even more snow is possible later in April, the Met Office predicted

But before the icy blast hits, Brits will be able to enjoy a week of rising temperatures as milder air from the south-west of the Atlantic takes charge, the Weather Channel predicted.

Thursday was set to be the warmest day of the week, with the mercury reaching 12C and a mixture of sun and showers.

But it will be short-lived and along with the warning of cold weather over Easter, some forecasts are predicting the cool weather could continue well into April.

Katie Greening added: “The mercury will begin to recover to from April 3; however this will be a slow-process as a warm high pressure system moves into north-western Europe.

“Despite this, the cold will never be too far away and there is a risk of further cold, more so over western Europe, during the second week of April.”

Brrrr – Snow in spring isn’t unusual, forecasters say
Brrrr – Snow in spring isn’t unusual, forecasters say

And although we’re all annoyed that winter seems to be lingering too long, according to the Weather Channel, snow in spring isn’t as uncommon as people may think, with Brits more likely to see the white stuff during Easter than Christmas.

After a mild spell in the next few days, we are expecting colder than average weather from around Wednesday next week into the Easter Weekend. However, this will be very different from “the Beasts from the East”. For one thing, it won’t be “from the east”. The Independent article, while factually correct, is rather misleading as the pictures imply widespread snow which will not be the case.

Martin Bowles, Operational Meteorologist at the Met Office, said the colder than average weather going into the Easter Weekend would be “very different from ‘the Beasts from the East'”.

Low pressure over the southern part of the North Sea is expected to draw down colder air from the North-west or North,” he said.

“This will cause night and morning frosts in many parts of the UK. It is likely to bring rather wet, showery weather. Some of the showers may turn briefly to snow over the Scottish Mountains and perhaps the Pennines above 300 metres but they are expected to fall as rain in towns and cities.”

He said while Easter snow is unusual, it’s not unheard of, especially when Easter falls early as it does this year and Easter in 2014 saw snow in many parts of the UK.

I hope that helps.