Weather forecast UK today – Spring Equinox finally heralds end of winter as Met Office predicts grey and drizzly weekend

SPRING is about to be sprung on sun-starved Brits who've been cooped up in lockdown since the beginning of the year.

Each year the spring equinox, or vernal, always falls toward the end of March between the 19th and 21st of the month.

In 2021, the date is Saturday, March 20 and marks the day when the length of daylight and darkness finally become equal.

There will be approximately 12 hours, 3 minutes, of daylight tomorow.

It comes as Brits could enjoy a baking Easter weekend as the 2,000 mile wide -5C Arctic Dome vanishes just in time for the holidays.

While the subzero freeze will continue this week bringing snow and icy conditions, things are now expected to warm up in time for the long Easter break at the start of April.

A Met Office spokesperson said: “Going into April, settled conditions are likely to continue in southern and eastern areas, where a good deal of dry and bright weather will occur.

The temperature spike will come as a boost to millions of Brits as it marks the first time in months friends can meet in public with rule of six replacing rules banning more than two people from different houses meeting.

Follow our live blog below for the latest weather news and updates…

  • Katie Davis

    NO WEATHER WARNINGS THIS WEEK

    The Met Office has not issued any weather warnings for the upcoming week.

  • Katie Davis

    WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST

    Saturday will see sunny spells for parts of eastern Scotland and northeast England, where it should feel rather warm by afternoon, according to the Met Office.

    Elsewhere a lot of cloud generally, perhaps a little drizzle for some.

    Often quite cloudy on Sunday, but most places remaining dry.

    Chance of sunny spells most likely in the east. Light winds. 

  • Katie Davis

    OUTLOOK FOR LONDON

    It will be turning increasingly brighter this afternoon.

    Temperatures will reach high of 12C.

    This evening, there will be patchy cloud at first, with thicker cloud and rain or drizzle spreading from the north overnight.

    Minimum temperature 0C.

  • Hana Carter

    SUNSHINE IN CAMBRIDGE TODAY

    Families made the most of the Spring sunshine today as they enjoyed walks at Cambridge University Botanic Garden.

    Many took advantage of the sunny weather to visit the gardens and see the snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils.

    The south east of England is set to see a bright day today, according to the Met Office, but northern Britain will see coastal low cloud and fog.

    Tonight there will be clear spells for a while across parts of southeast England, leading to patchy frost. Elsewhere it is expected to be mostly cloudy, with some drizzle.

  • Hana Carter

    TONIGHT'S FORECAST

    According to the Met Office there will be clear spells for a while across parts of southeast England, leading to patchy frost.

    Clearer and chilly, too, in parts of Scotland. Elsewhere mostly cloudy, a little drizzle for some.

  • Hana Carter

    CHILLY TEMPERATURES SET TO STAY FOR SOUTH OF ENGLAND NEXT WEEK

    The chilly temperatures are also set to stay for the south of England next week, with the mercury set to barely reach 5C in some places.

    Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: “It will feel more like winter than spring, with polar air expected in coming weeks.”

    And the freezing cold is set to stay until the beginning of next month, with temperatures plunging as low as -4C in central Scotland and -2C in Cumbria on April 1, weather maps show.

    Towards the end of March, a period of unsettled weather with spells of rain and some strong winds crossing all parts of the UK is expected.

  • Hana Carter

    CLOUDY FOR MANY THIS AFTERNOON

  • Hana Carter

    POTATOES COULD BE IN SHORT SUPPLY

    Experts say potatoes are one of the foods which could be in short supply in the next 30 years if UK temperatures increase.

    A report by the UK Met Office said milk production could also be hit under worst-case climate change scenarios.

    Research published in the journal Climate Risk Management found that heat stress in dairy cattle, which can lead to lower milk production, is projected to increase significantly in key dairy regions of the UK, particularly south west England.

  • Hana Carter

    BRITS BASKED IN 19C SUNSHINE YESTERDAY – BUT IT WON’T LAST

    BRITS basked in glorious 19C sunshine yesterday on the hottest day in five months – but an icy Arctic blast is now set to hit the UK.

    After a warm week, Brits will need to brace for colder weather conditions over the next few days.

    Read more here.

  • Hana Carter

    HEAT STRESS IN DAIRY CATTLE TO INCREASE

    A study by the Met Office found that heat stress in dairy cattle is projected to increase significantly in key dairy regions of the UK, particularly South Western England.

    The study also covered the climate change impacts on the potato sector due to late blight, a disease affecting potato crops which occurs in warm, humid weather.

    Dr Freya Garry is the author of the study. She said: “Projections show potential for major climate change impacts on UK farming.

    "Our study found that future dairy cattle in parts of the South East may be exposed to heat stress for an extra two months per year.

    "At the moment, cattle in the South East experience around a week per year of these stressful conditions.”

  • Hana Carter

    FOGBOW LIGHTS UP IN SCOTLAND

    Weather watchers have been marvelling at a beautiful wonder of nature off the coast of Scotland.

    A spectacular fogbow lit up the sky yesterday evening over Askernith golf course on South Uist, second biggest island in the Outer Hebrides.

    The Met Office says "A fogbow forms from sunlight interacting with water droplets contained in fog, mist or cloud rather than interacting with raindrops as it does in a classical rainbow.

    "These water droplets are much smaller than raindrops, nearly always less than 0.1 mm in diameter.

    "They cause the light to undergo different physical processes, most notably diffraction, which leads to fogbows appearing to be devoid of colour.

  • Hana Carter

    SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES TO FREEZE BRITAIN UNTIL EASTER

    Sub-zero temperatures are set to hit the UK until Easter with frost and snow expected to cover parts of the country.

    After this week started on a warm note, Brits will need to brace for colder weather conditions over the next few days.

    Cold air is set to move in the UK from the Arctic region, with the mercury dropping below zero.

    Met Office meteorologist Clare Nasir said a light breeze will make temperatures fall today, with the mercury plummeting to -3C in Northern Ireland overnight.

    Some fog will also form in southern parts of Northern Ireland, East Wales and North West England. The forecaster said it will be frosty for some as temperatures fall close to freezing, particularly in the countryside

  • Hana Carter

    SPRING EQUINOX: MARCH 20

    Spring is about to be sprung on sun-starved Brits who've been cooped up in lockdown since the beginning of the year.

    Each year the spring equinox, or vernal, always falls toward the end of March between the 19th and 21st of the month.

    In 2021, the date is Saturday, March 20.

    This is the day when the length of daylight and darkness become equal.

    There will be approximately 12 hours, 3 minutes, of daylight on that day.

  • Hana Carter

    EQUINOX ON SATURDAY

  • Hana Carter

    'ARCTIC DOME' WILL BRING SNOW & ICE IN COMING DAYS

    The Met Office has warned a 2,000-mile wide 'Arctic dome' of cold air will bring snow and ice into the UK this week.

    After the first signs of spring, the weather will turn colder again starting from Wednesday, forecasters have warned.

    The mercury will plummet with Scotland, Northumberland, Cumbria, Liverpool and Manchester all set to see snow, according to Netweather.

    It has predicted a 30 to 85 per cent chance of the white stuff, with temperatures in the South East reaching between -3C and -5C.

    London, Bath and Kent could also see white showers, forecasters have warned.

  • Alex Winter

    A DULL WEEKEND AHEAD

    Meteogroup UK says the weather will be "dull" this weekend.

    Tomorrow, skies will stay cloudy and there'll be mist which will lift over the course of the morning.

    It'll be dry for most of the day, but skies will stay grey for most of us.

  • Alex Winter

    YESTERDAY WAS THE WARMEST DAY OF THE YEAR SO FAR

    It wasn't warm everywhere yesterday – but for some it was the nicest day of the year.

  • Alex Winter

    'ARCTIC DOME' WILL BRING SNOW & ICE IN COMING DAYS

    The Met Office has warned a 2,000-mile wide 'Arctic dome' of cold air will bring snow and ice into the UK this week.

    After the first signs of spring, the weather will turn colder again starting from Wednesday, forecasters have warned.

    The mercury will plummet with Scotland, Northumberland, Cumbria, Liverpool and Manchester all set to see snow, according to Netweather.

    It has predicted a 30 to 85 per cent chance of the white stuff, with temperatures in the South East reaching between -3C and -5C.

    London, Bath and Kent could also see white showers, forecasters have warned.

  • Joseph Gamp

    METEOGROUP WEATHER FORECAST FOR FRIDAY: DRY BUT CLOUDY FOR MOST WITH DRIZZLE IN THE NORTH AND EAST

    A dull start to the day today with early patches of mist soon lifting and clearing, according to predictions from the Meteogroup.

    It will then be a rather cloudy day with spots of drizzle and light rain, mostly across northern and eastern areas.

    Some brighter spells will develop during the afternoon and evening. Mostly gentle winds

    On Friday night, a largely dry but cloudy evening, however, there will be some late bright and sunny spells across the south and south-east.

    Overnight will continue to be dry but cloudy; patches of mist will form and there is a threat of drizzle. There will be clear spells in the south-east

  • Joseph Gamp

    FRIDAY TO GET OFF TO A CLOUDY AND DRIZZLY START

    The Met Office has offered a mixed bag of weather tomorrow morning.

    It tweeted: "Friday morning will start cloudy across many areas with patchy #drizzle in places.

    "The best of any #sunshine will be in some western parts of Scotland and the far southeast of England"

  • Joseph Gamp

    A FREEZE IS COMING

    Sub-zero temperatures are set to hit the UK until Easter with frost and snow expected to cover parts of the country.

    After this week started on a warm note, Brits will need to brace for colder weather conditions over the next few days.

    Cold air is set to move in the UK from the Arctic region, with the mercury dropping below zero.

    Met Office meteorologist Clare Nasir said a light breeze will make temperatures fall today, with the mercury plummeting to -3C in Northern Ireland overnight.

    Some fog will also form in southern parts of Northern Ireland, East Wales and North West England. The forecaster said it will be frosty for some as temperatures fall close to freezing, particularly in the countryside

  • Claudia Aoraha

    'ARCTIC DOME' WILL BRING SNOW & ICE IN COMING DAYS

    The Met Office has warned a 2,000-mile wide 'Arctic dome' of cold air will bring snow and ice into the UK this week.

    After the first signs of spring, the weather will turn colder again starting from Wednesday, forecasters have warned.

    The mercury will plummet with Scotland, Northumberland, Cumbria, Liverpool and Manchester all set to see snow, according to Netweather.

    It has predicted a 30 to 85 per cent chance of the white stuff, with temperatures in the South East reaching between -3C and -5C.

    London, Bath and Kent could also see white showers, forecasters have warned.

  • Joseph Gamp

    NORTHERN IRELAND TO SHIVER IN -3 TEMPERATURES OVERNIGHT

    Cold air is set to move in the UK from the Arctic region, with the mercury dropping below zero.

    Met Office meteorologist Clare Nasir said a light breeze will make temperatures fall today, with the mercury plummeting to -3C in Northern Ireland overnight.

    Some fog will also form in southern parts of Northern Ireland, East Wales and North West England.

    The forecaster said it will be frosty for some as temperatures fall close to freezing, particularly in the countryside.

  • Joseph Gamp

    TEMPS WILL BE 'AT OR SLIGHTLY BELOW AVERAGE' BY END OF MONTH SAYS MET OFFICE

    Temperatures will be at or slightly below average for this time of year by the end of the month, according to the Met Office.

    A Met Office spokesperson said: "Going into April, settled conditions are likely to continue in southern and eastern areas, where a good deal of dry and bright weather will occur."

    The temperature spike will come as a boost to millions of Brits as it marks the first time in months friends can meet in public with rule of six replacing rules banning more than two people from different houses meeting.

    It come after a warm week for much of the UK.

  • Joseph Gamp

    CHILLY TEMPERATURES SET TO STAY FOR SOUTH OF ENGLAND NEXT WEEK

    The chilly temperatures are also set to stay for the south of England next week, with the mercury set to barely reach 5C in some places.

    Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: "It will feel more like winter than spring, with polar air expected in coming weeks."

    And the freezing cold is set to stay until the beginning of next month, with temperatures plunging as low as -4C in central Scotland and -2C in Cumbria on April 1, weather maps show.

    Towards the end of March, a period of unsettled weather with spells of rain and some strong winds crossing all parts of the UK is expected.

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