Spring is here, but so are cold winds and showers

Cold showers and blustery winds are forecast for the next few days across the country, with a chance of snow in Scotland and also over the Pennines and the Welsh Hills, MeteoGroup said.

The sharp change in weather comes after many parts of the country enjoyed warm temperatures and sunshine last weekend.

In Yorkshire, after scattered showers yesterday the weather is expected to turn cold today, with temperatures reaching no higher than 9C, the Met Office says.

There will be sunny spells and showers, some wintry, especially on hills, and heavy rain during the afternoon with a risk of hail and thunder.

From tomorrow until Tuesday sunny spells are expected in the region, though the weather will be much colder than recently with strong, gusty winds and showers developing. Wintry showers are forecast over high ground, with hail and thunder possible.

Tom Tobler, forecaster for MeteoGroup, said: “There will be a few showers on Sunday and temperatures will remain fairly cool. It definitely won’t be as warm as recent weekends we’ve had.”

The Met Office has also issued a warning about icy patches expected overnight in the region and elsewhere this morning, as roads will remain wet from overnight showers.

It said: “These showers will continue to fall as a mixture of rain, sleet and hail with snow mostly over higher ground. Some higher routes, e.g. trans-Pennine routes, could see temporary snow accumulations of two to five centimetres.

“The public should be aware of possible disruption to travel due to icy surfaces on Friday night and early on Saturday morning.”

Thursday marked the first day of Spring, also known as the vernal equinox, the point when the Earth’s north and south poles are not tilted toward or away from the sun. This phenomena occurs twice a year, on 20 March and on 22 September.