Scotland could bask in 20C weather by Easter weekend after spring freeze thaws

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Warmer weather is on the way for Scotland, as a meteorologist has predicted highs of 20C by the end of the Easter weekend.

After a long and freezing winter, the return of spring sunshine will be welcome news for many as people will once again be able to bask in the heat.

Speaking to the Mirror, British Weather Services' senior meteorological consultant Jim Dale said there's a high chance even Scots could see these temperatures by Easter Monday and the days that follow.

He said: "We went through February and it was dry and predominantly mild. When I say it was dry, it was exceptionally dry in the southeast, so we had to make that up.

"We're starting to come out of it just in time for Easter, and we're likely to see some high pressure come on just before Good Friday."

He continued: "It's not a given, but there are good signs that this kind of change of fortunes will arrive just in time for Easter.

"If we give it some time - and I'm not just talking about Good Friday or the Saturday, but certainly the back end of the bank holiday weekend and the week that follows for the school holidays - it does look like it might well become warmer."

But before then, Scotland could be braced for another bout of snowfall and freezing temperatures in the coming days, according to the Met Office.

Wintry conditions are set to sweep in on Sunday, March 26, despite the clocks changing and the official start of British Summer Time.

A fresh spell of cold air is predicted to cause temperatures to plummet at the weekend, with parts of Scotland likely to see some snowfall in the early hours of the morning.

Temperatures will drop to as low as -3C (Image: Met Office)

Speaking about the outlook for this weekend, a Met Office forecaster said: "The showers coming in across the northeast will turn increasingly wintry initially over hills but certainly down to lower levels. Some snow is possible but it's not expected to stick around too much.

"There will be a hard frost for many as we head into the new working week."

This snow can be seen on weather maps from WXCharts, which predict between 0.2cm and 0.6cm of snowfall per hour in the early hours of Sunday across much of Scotland,

These are likely to clear up as the day goes on, but the chilly conditions are set to continue into early April thanks to unsettled weather moving in from the west.

Weather map from WXCharts shows cold air sweeping in (Image: WXCharts)

Tuesday, March 28 will see some more possible snow over higher ground, with conditions likely to be cold and wet.

The Met Office forecast says: "Into early April, more settled conditions and drier interludes become increasingly likely, although a chance of wetter, potentially thundery conditions at times. Temperatures are generally above average, though colder conditions remain possible in the far north and northeast at first."

Five-day forecast for Scotland

Friday, March 24 (daytime)

Sunny spells and showers, these heaviest and most frequent in the south and west accompanied by gusty winds. Cloudier across Scotland with rain and drizzle at times.

Friday, March 24 (evening)

Rain and showers continuing for many, Northern Ireland and much of Scotland seeing the most persistent rain. Turning wintry over high ground.

Saturday, March 25

Sunny spells and showers for most. These heaviest and most frequent in north where they will be wintry over high ground. More persistent rain arriving in far southwest towards evening.

Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday

Rain clearing the south Sunday morning then turning colder with wintry showers, especially across the northeast. Cold but mostly dry Monday after a frost then turning milder and wetter Tuesday.

Scotland could bask in 20C weather by Easter weekend after spring freeze thaws

Five-day forecast for Scotland

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