UK weather: Britain to see north-south divide as temperatures set to reach highs of 19C in London but plunge to -3C in Scotland

Fintan Starkey
Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:02:06 +0000

Britain is set to see a north-south divide in the weather as temperatures will drop below freezing in Scotland and northern England later this month.

Some areas of north-west England and central Scotland are set to hit -3C, in late April, with frost expected as well.

In stark contrast to the cold temperatures in the north, the south and south-west of England will see a mild temperatures with temperatures staying around 6C-7C overnight.

London and Birmingham are set to see the best of the temperatures during the divide with highs of around 19C in the sunshine, on April 27.

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On April 29, we will see the freezing temperatures in the north, with Scotland seeing as low as -3C with the milder conditions in the south.

This weekend, there will be a mix of sunshine and showers across northern areas, with some heavy rain and a risk of hail.

It will be drier and brighter further south, although a few showers will develop across Wales and the Midlands into the afternoon.

The sun is set to shine throughout the day across the UK as the showers pass, with the weather remaining much calmer than in recent weeks.

Met Office meteorologist Annie Shuttleworth said: “In the sunshine, it is going to be pretty warm, with the strength of the sun is equal to late August at this time of year.

“Easterly winds, however, are not a particularly warm direction, so it is not going to be particularly warm out of the sunshine.”

Scattered showers across the west will ease in the evening, leading to clear skies for most.

The calmer weather conditions are set to last into next week.

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Sunday will start off chilly, but as the sun rises, it should be a mild day for most across the UK.

The odd shower is possible in the north and east of England, but for most it will remain dry.

Jim Dale, meteorologist for British Weather Services and co-author of Surviving Extreme Weather, said: “It is going to feel pleasant going into the weekend, with a spell of what I would call proper spring weather on the way.

“Temperatures are widely expected to be 17C, 18C or 19C, with 20C possible in the southeast.”

Looking ahead to next week, showers are possible on Monday in the east and the west on Tuesday, but will otherwise remain dry and bright throughout the week.

Temperatures will remain around average for the time of year, but it may feel colder due to an easterly breeze.

Ms Shuttleworth said: “Beyond next week, the area of high pressure starts to move.

"And we could have more northerly winds pushing in, which means it could turn more unsettled but also more cold.”