“The evolution of this system during the middle of next week is uncertain, but it does appear increasingly likely to herald the start of another colder spell for many parts of the UK,” said Laura Paterson, a Met Office forecaster.
“Despite uncertainty regarding the timing and onset of this change, the signal that colder conditions will develop and last into the Easter weekend has remained consistent.”
Overcast but mild weather is expected this weekend, with temperatures of about 10C and patchy showers across England.
Unsettled weather conditions were forecast from Monday as an Atlantic front brought heavy rain and the potential for strong winds across the UK.
The system was expected to give way to snow in northern, central and eastern parts of the UK from Wednesday, although major disruption was not likely.
Weatherwatch: sudden stratospheric warming and the Beast from the East
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“We’re now a lot further into spring than at the beginning of March. The ground is warmer, the sun is stronger because it is higher in the sky and we have more hours of daylight at the end of March compared with the beginning of the month. All of these factors are likely to subdue the impact of any snowfall,” Paterson said.
Analysts have said the extreme weather in February and March could hit UK economic growth for the first three months of the year because of disruption to transport networks and fewer people going shopping.
At least 10 people died in the UK as a result of the freezing weather, which saw blizzard conditions, rural communities cut off and temperatures falling as low as -10C.
Military personnel assisted emergency services in responding to callouts during the cold weather, and thousands of schools and workplaces closed.
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