Britain is heading for a shivering cold snap and even the chance of snow in the coming week – just days after the first taste of glorious sun.
The hottest day of the year so far came last week with temperatures peaking at 20C (68F) in some areas.
However, forecasters have warned of a ‘cold plunge’ with temperatures set to plummet back down into single digits by Wednesday.
The Met Office said the rain and wind will ease later in the week but temperatures are likely to remain cool, with the potential for overnight frost in some areas.
As the week progresses, the temperature is expected to hover at or dip a little bit below average for this time of year.
Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said temperatures will be in the single digits for most by Wednesday when the ‘cold plunge’ sets in.
He added that these figures ‘would be the max’ so people can expect it to get colder at night.
Areas of northern Scotland may need to brace for snow fall on Wednesday night and into Thursday morning, which could be a ‘shock to the system’ after the sunny conditions this week, Mr Deakin said.
Scotland recorded its warmest day of the year on Friday, with a peak of 20.2C recorded in Fyvie Castle, Aberdeenshire.
Mr Deakin said: ‘We could easily see some snow over the hills in Scotland.
The hottest day of the year so far came last week with temperatures peaking at 20C (68F) in some areas (Pictured: People enjoying the spring sunshine on Wimbledon Common, southwest London, on Saturday)
The Met Office’s temperature forecast for the UK on Wednesday as a ‘cold plunge’ sets in
The last glimpse of this week’s sun as it rose across London this morning with colder weather heading for the UK next week
‘Nothing unusual about that at this time of year, but it will feel different because it has been so warm and sunny for many of us over recent times, so you’ll get that shock to the system.’
It comes after Britons flocked outside this week to enjoy the warmest day of the year as temperatures hit 20C.
The Met Office confirmed a high of 20.9C (69.6F) was recorded at Gogerddan in Wales on Wednesday afternoon, while England got to 20.2C (68.4F) in Northolt, West London.
This was above the previous 2026 UK high of 19.2C (66.6F) recorded at Northolt on March 5 – which itself beat the 18.7C (65.7F) at Kew Gardens on February 25.
The UK was also warmer on Wednesday than many European holiday hotspots including Faro in the Algarve (17C/63F), Ibiza and Malta (both 16C/61F) and Corfu (15C/59F).
Wednesday was also the first time the UK had made it to 20C (68F) in more than five months. The last time Northolt topped 20C was October 6, 2025 with 21.4C (70.5F).
Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said the higher temperatures this week were due to warm air being dragged up from further south in Europe.
He said: ‘We get this a lot at this time of year, we sometimes joke the warmest day of the year klaxon is going off every day.’
The Met Office said the rain and wind will ease later in the week but temperatures are likely to remain cool, with the potential for overnight frost in some areas (Pictured: People enjoying the spring sunshine on Wimbledon Common, southwest London, on Saturday)
As the week progresses, the temperature is expected to hover at or dip a little bit below average for this time of year, the Met Office said (Pictured: Hyacinth flowers lit up by the sun in Reading, Berkshire, on Saturday)
Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said temperatures will be in the single digits for most by Wednesday when the ‘cold plunge’ sets in (Pictured: People enjoying the spring sunshine on Wimbledon Common, southwest London, on Saturday)
It comes after Britons flocked outside this week to enjoy the warmest day of the year so far today as temperatures hit 20C (Pictured: Rowers in Putney on the Thames on Saturday)
Stunning pictures show thousands of daffodils blooming outside a medieval castle as spring finally arrives
The dazzling display was captured by Emma Giles who flew a drone over the famous landmark
Meanwhile, photographer Simon Woodley snapped a mesmerising sunset over the Penshaw Monument overlooking Sunderland on Saturday night
The sunny forecast is also driven by warm southerly winds and high pressure, as well as a phenomenon known as the Foehn effect, forecasters said.
This is caused by a passage of east to south-easterly winds which move over areas of higher ground.
Looking further ahead, the Met Office long-range forecast expects ‘changeable and at times unsettled conditions for many parts of the UK’ from next week.
By the start of April high pressure may become ‘more dominant once again with plenty of dry weather, but with some overnight fog and frost’.
Stunning pictures show thousands of daffodils blooming outside a medieval castle as spring finally arrives.
The sweep of golden yellow flowers carpet the slopes of the keep of Warkworth Castle in Northumberland.
The dazzling display was captured by Emma Giles who flew a drone over the famous landmark.
She said: ‘It’s been such a long wet winter but suddenly, as if over night, the daffodils burst into life at Warkworth.
‘Locals and holidaymakers always wait for the Warkworth daffodils to bloom. It’s a sure sign spring is finally here.’
Meanwhile, photographer Simon Woodley snapped a mesmerising sunset over the Penshaw Monument overlooking Sunderland on Saturday night.
