Google+  FB Share  

Temperatures are set to plummet over the Bank Holiday weekend, falling to as low as -3C as a blast of cold air moves in from the Arctic, potentially lasting for up to a fortnight.

Forecasters say that parts of Britain will experience heavy overnight frosts, with the North facing a windchill factor of -5C and the potential for snow on hilltops by the end of the week.

The impending cold snap follows one of the mildest winters in recent years, although the wettest January for 250 years led to widespread flooding – particularly in the South-West.

Google+  FB Share  

Speaking to the MailOnline, Met Office spokesman Simon Partridge said high pressure building up in the North would cause rainfall, although the Bank Holiday weekend itself is expected to be dry.

Colder air will begin moving down from the North on Wednesday, reaching southern England by the weekend and causing heavy frosts, he added.

‘In fact we’ve been telling gardeners over the last few days that they should move new or vulnerable plants indoors if possible,’ Mr Partridge said.

Jonathan Powell, forecaster for Vantage Weather, told the Express: ‘We are looking at northerly flow of air coming in from the Arctic. With windchill this could push thermometers as low a -5C.’

‘Temperatures are going to sink decidedly below average for the time of year, with the risk of very sharp frosts and a cold and bracing Bank Holiday next Monday’.

Google+  FB Share  

Google+  FB Share  

‘This is certainly looking like the last taste of winter and it could hold out like this for at least the next week and perhaps up to two,’ he added.

The predicted cold snap contradicts forecasts from earlier in the month that said Britain was set for a six-week heatwave from the end of April and into May.

A Met Office report read: ‘Latest predictions for UK-mean temperature favour above-average temperatures for April and April-May as a whole.’

The warm conditions had been expected to bring a quarter of a million visitors to the South-West – providing a £54million boost for local businesses that were badly hit by flooding earlier in the year.

Meanwhile, parts of the south coast will experience slowing moving heavy showers today, with the Met Office issuing a yellow warning for the potential risk of localised flooding.

Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said: ‘The yellow warning is in place for this afternoon from 12.45pm to 8pm, along the south coast, which will experience scattered heavy showers and thunderstorms. Some places will experience 10 to 15mm of rain in less than an hour, with some places getting 25mm of rain in three hours. There could be localised flooding as the showers will be sharp and heavy, which makes it difficult for the drains and ground to cope

‘There is also a chance of hail and lightning with some of those storms.’