UK weather: Cold plunge set to continue into next month as parts of Britain to see temperatures as low as -9C

Ben McCaffrey
Sun, 29 Mar 2026 13:58:06 +0000

A cold plunge is set to hit the UK over the Easter weekend, with temperatures likely to plummet as low as -9C.

While the clocks go forward, it brings with it the official beginning of springtime, but without the promise of warmer weather.

This weekend, Britons have seen lashing hail and hill snow across the North and Scotland, and even the occasional ominous rumble of thunder was heard.

Unfortunately, weather forecasters are not predicting an improvement on this heading into Easter.

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Weather charts generated by WXCharts have shown Britons that the weather in areas of Scotland is expected to be the worst affected.

The upper Highlands region will be hit the hardest, seeing temperatures fall as low as -9C.

Meanwhile, Glasgow could experience as cold as -5C, and Aberdeen -3C.

The freeze comes despite the official start of spring this weekend, after the clocks went forward on March 28 to officially mark the occasion.

It also coincides with forecasted snow in the region, which is expected to coat much of Scotland in white.

Glasgow and Dundee could see accumulations of around 5cm by Friday, April 3, according to the weather maps.

By early evening, northwest Scotland may experience depths reaching 6cm to 7cm.

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The border counties of Cumbria and Northumberland are also in line for snowfall during Friday afternoon hours.

Further south, the picture looks rather different. Large parts of England stretching down to Somerset face heavy rain rather than snow, though this precipitation should clear by nightfall.

The unsettled spell is forecast to persist well into the first weekend of April, with snow building up across Scotland and scattered areas of northern and central England.

The Met Office's long-range outlook for March 31 to April 9 anticipates turbulent weather across northern England, with deep low-pressure systems potentially "bringing wetter and windier weather" throughout the country.

"Whilst temperatures will be generally near to or a little above average, some colder interludes are possible, especially in the north, where there could be some wintry showers at times," the forecaster states.

A Met Office spokesperson confirmed to PA News Agency that Britain remains gripped by "a colder pool of air" causing below-average temperatures, though warmer spring conditions should eventually arrive.