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Snow forecast as UK temperatures set to drop - but how unusual is snow in April?

<em>The UK could see a return of snow as temperatures drop this week (Picture: PA)</em>
The UK could see a return of snow as temperatures drop this week (Picture: PA)

The UK could see snow again this week with temperatures set to drop.

The Lake District, North Pennines and Scottish Highlands are most at risk of a return of the white stuff, according to the Met Office, as bookies slashed the odds on snow to fall this month.

Cold temperatures will be an unwelcome arrival for people across the UK after the recent hot spell that saw the mercury hit a record-breaking 29C (84.2F) in central London.

Met Office meteorologist John West said: “Towards the end of the week it is certainly possible that the cold weather will include hail, sleet showers and snow, especially on higher ground. The areas most at risk are the Lake District, North Pennines and Scottish Highlands, but we are not expecting a big impact.”

<em>Hot spell – people across the UK enjoyed high temperatures, with a record-breaking 29C hitting London (Picture: PA)</em>
Hot spell – people across the UK enjoyed high temperatures, with a record-breaking 29C hitting London (Picture: PA)

But despite its unwelcome return, snow in April isn’t actually as unusual as you might expect.

According to the Met Office, based on records from 1981 to 2010 the UK average is for 2.3 days of snow in April – more than the 1.7 days for an average November.

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While snow is usually expected closer to the beginning of the month than the end, in 1981 there was significant snowfall widely from April 24 to 28 – with more than 30cm recorded on April 25 over the high ground of the Pennines, 29cm in Sheffield and 26cm in Buxton.

The next day 25cm of snow was recorded at Okehampton, Devon, with 20cm at Blaisdon, Gloucestershire and 14cm at Corsham, Wiltshire.

There’s even been snow in May, the Met Office said. In 1979, it snowed every day somewhere in the UK between May 1 and 6, including parts of the south and southeast. And on May 6, 1997 more than 200 stations across the UK recorded falling snow.