Better keep your coat on because an Arctic blast is on its way

A blast of Arctic air is ending the mild weather enjoyed over the last few days (Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Spring may not be in full bloom yet as temperatures are set to plummet across the UK.

A blast of Arctic air is ending the mild weather enjoyed over the last few days, with the South East set to see highs of 16C on the first official day of Spring this evening.

But from tomorrow night, a change in air direction from the north will bring the weather down again, ending the winds coming from Spain and Portugal.

Areas of the UK will dip to as low as 5C, with frost and some snow expected in the north of the country.

Met Office forecaster Craig Snell told the Independent: ‘People may get a bit of a shock as those walking around thinking winter is over will find themselves getting their coat in chilly conditions this weekend.

‘The north westerly and northern winds will see the above-average temperatures for this time of year fall away with temperatures feeling much colder by the weekend.

‘It’s going to be a weekend of sunshine and blustery winds – no snow bomb, but it will start to feel colder. People have started going outside without their coats, but come Friday they will be grabbing them again.’

Areas of the UK will dip to as low as 5C (Picture: PA)

It is unclear how long the cold weather will last, but wind and rain has been predicted across southern areas from Monday.

A 400 mile-wide storm from the US is travelling 4,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to bring 60 mph winds and heavy rain in the two weeks leading up to Easter.

It already caused tornadoes and huge five-inch hailstones in Oklahoma, but the storm will stark spinning across the Atlantic to begin soaking the north and west of the UK from Monday evening.

The unpleasant weather will bring two more weeks of rain after we’ve had to endure the wettest 12 months in 153 years.

The Environment Agency said the year to the start of March had been the wettest in England since 1871, and rainfall so far this month is double the normal rate in the south of England.

This massive storm system is about to travel from the USA to the UK(Picture: NOAA/ZUMA Wire/Shutterstock)

A Met Office forecaster said: ‘The system responsible for the storms in the USA is heading towards Western Europe.

‘It will turn wet and windy later on Monday, with showery rain and brisk winds on Tuesday.

‘There still be further rain for most areas on Wednesday and Thursday, with strong winds, especially along coasts.

‘Through Friday and the weekend, northwesterly winds will bring a mixture of sunny spells and showers, some heavy.

‘The week to March 31 has unsettled conditions probably in the south, with the north drier but colder.’

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