UK weather: Snow to return over Easter weekend as milder conditions give way to -10C temperatures

Met Office warns more snowfall likely as freezing weather returns

The UK is set to enjoy milder weather this weekend before another cold blast brings the possibility of more snow over Easter.

Showers and overcast conditions in England and Wales were set to ease on Saturday, bringing brighter weather from the north.

A cold and frosty start to Sunday is expected in places, before sunny periods and milder weather punctuated by showers are expected as the day wears on.

However, forecasters have warned the middle of next week could see a return to the colder conditions that have blasted the UK for much of March.

Snow is a likely possibility over the Easter weekend in higher-altitude areas in the north, while the chance of snowfall on lower ground has yet to be ruled out.

Temperatures could plummet as low as -10C in mountainous regions, but conditions are generally not expected to be as severe as those seen during recent cold snaps.

“It is worth pointing out that statistically speaking, snow is more likely to fall at Easter than at Christmas,” said Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna.

“The general trend from Wednesday onwards into Easter is for things to be more unsettled with a chance of snow, especially in the north east in the hills.

“Temperatures of -10C are possible on the tops of mountains if snow settles, but from the early forecasts the weather does not look like it will be as severe as it has been recently.

“In recent events, the daytime temperature has struggled to get above freezing, but next week we are looking at 4C or 5C in the north and 7C or 8C in the south.

“That is still cold for this time of year but it is nowhere near as bad as it was.”

Britain has been battered by freezing conditions in recent weeks, with snowfall brought from Siberia by the weather front known as the “beast from the east” quickly followed by more blizzards a fortnight later.