UK weather: Parts of country hit by snow before temperatures soar next week

Although snow has been falling in some parts of the UK on Saturday, temperatures are expected to soar by the middle of next week, the Met Office has said.

Manchester was among the areas to be hit by snow at the start of the weekend, after northerly air spread down the country from the Arctic.

Users on social media posted videos of snow storms outside their homes and expressed their surprise at the wintry weather.

Simon Partridge, a meteorologist at the Met Office, told The Independent that high areas, particularly those in Scotland, have seen “snow showers” since Friday evening.

“Through today we’ve seen sleet and snow across higher ground over the Pennines and some of the North York Moors as well,” he said.

Manchester will most likely see some more snowfall over the next 24 hours, according to Mr Partridge. However, the snow will not settle because the ground will be warm enough to melt it.

Speaking about snowfall at this time of year, Mr Partridge said: “It’s not that unusual for April really. That’s why April is such a nightmare month when it comes to forecasting.

“You can be 20C one week and snowing the next, which is what’s happened. It’s a topsy-turvy kind of a month, unfortunately,” he added.

Frost is possible in most areas of the UK overnight, with temperatures predicted to get as low as -7C in a few isolated spots and just below freezing in many towns and cities.

From the beginning of next week, the outlook is set to be warmer and brighter. A mild band of air from the Atlantic will improve things slightly, before the UK sees high pressure from Tuesday onwards.

There will be plenty of dry and sunny spells on Tuesday and Wednesday, and temperatures could reach highs of 17C on Thursday.

Glasgow could reach 16C on Thursday, six degrees above average for the time of year. “That’s the joy of spring,” said Mr Partridge.