Arctic blast hits Britain with plummeting temperatures

Parts of Britain have been battered by snow, sleet and gale-force winds as an Arctic blast sends temperatures plummeting and puts spring on hold.

The first crocus flowers of Spring in West Sussex Image by Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

After weeks of bright sunshine and balmy temperatures, the weather has taken a sharp turn for the worse.

The mercury plummeted to -8C (17.6F) in Northern Ireland last night – making it one of the coldest April nights on record.

And experts warned the bad weather will last into next month, meaning those hoping to enjoy a spot of sunshine on the May bank holiday weekend will be disappointed.

Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey, said: “The weather has started to change and it is coming from the Arctic.

“We have had a long stretch of quite settled weather where high pressure has dominated, but that has moved out. This cold air has moved in from the Arctic and that is moving slowly south.”

Drivers have been warned to be careful of potentially treacherous conditions as wintry showers of sleet and snow hit Scotland and Northern Ireland, before sweeping across northern parts of England, Wales and the east coast. Gale-force winds of 50 mph are predicted to batter Northern Ireland.

Less than a fortnight ago, Britain enjoyed the hottest day of the year so far with the mercury hitting 25.1C (77F) in Kent.

But temperatures have nosedived and will hover in the low teens all week in south, while it will struggle to get into double digits in the north – making Britain colder than Moscow.

(Press Association)