Polar storm sweeps Britain in -4C freeze with snow hitting far south as Kent

Easter egg hunts and bunnies might have to cope with ice and snow as a huge cold front looks set to swamp the UK next week. The Arctic blast is predicted to arrive from April 3 and 4, bringing wintry conditions to large parts of the country from Scotland in the north to as far south as Kent in the south.

Eastern parts of the country are forecast to bear the brunt of the cold snap which is driven from Siberia and Russia over the continent. New weather maps from forecaster WXCharts show temperatures could plummet to as low as -4C in central and Highland areas of Scotland. The minus mercury will also hit the rest of Britain overnight on April 4, with Wales, Northern Ireland and England all seeing lows of -3C in some parts, particularly over higher ground.

Snowfall is expected on April 4 in eastern parts of the nation, with heavier flurries in Scotland, but there is also snow predicted for Northumbria, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and even as far south as Kent. North Wales might well see a covering too.

Separately, according to the Met Office medium-range forecast the freezing weather will be part of a “changeable” pattern sweeping the nation between Sunday March 29 and April 7.

The Met Office said: “A broadly changeable pattern will continue, at least through the first part of this period, as further frontal systems move across parts of the UK, bringing rain and stronger winds at times.

“Weather fronts are likely to be more active across northern areas, meaning the wettest and windiest conditions are more likely here.

“As they come south, often running in to a ridge of higher pressure extending from the southwest, fronts will generally weaken and rainfall amounts will be smaller.

“This area of high pressure is likely to become increasingly dominant through the period, with more settled conditions perhaps becoming more prevalent across the UK.

“In this setup, temperatures will probably pan out close to average overall, with some overnight frost where skies are clear and winds light.”

This evening and tonight:

Rain moves southeastwards this evening, clearing out to the North Sea by the early hours. Later it turns colder and windy with clear spells and showers, heaviest in the north and west, with hill snow in northern areas.

Sunny spells and blustery wintry showers. The showers most frequent across the north and northwest where they will be heavy with hail and thunder. Feeling cold with brisk winds.

Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:

Briefly drier for most on Thursday, before another spell of rain moves southeastwards later and into Friday. Scattered showers following into Saturday, most frequent in the north. Temperatures slowly recovering.