Weather: Temperatures set to return to normal

SPRING is finally expected to arrive this weekend, with temperatures set to return to normal, following the coldest March in more than 50 years.

Southern areas of the UK will see temperatures reaching 10C (50F), only a few degrees below April averages, with sunshine spreading across the country.

But the rise in warmer temperatures will bring unsettled weather, including flurries of rain, forecasters warned last night.

Matt Dobson, of MeteoGroup, said: “There’s definitely a change on the way. We’ll notice it next week more than anything, with temperatures returning to normal.

“Saturday looks like a lovely day for the south. Cold but plenty of sunshine around, although there will be a frosty start. By the end of Saturday it could get up to 10C in the south, which is a few degrees warmer than we have seen and just below the average for April.

“In the north of Scotland it will still be fairly cold, even on Saturday with rain and sleet about.

“Temperatures are on the up, but the weather won’t be that nice. It is turning less cold with temperatures returning to normal, but with that rise we’ll have lots of rain.”

Average temperatures across the UK will reach 7C to 8C (44F to 46F) on Saturday, rising to 9C (48F) on Sunday and could continue to rise during the week. Dan Williams, of the Met Office, said: “What we’ll see is temperatures going much closer to the average but we’ll see more unsettled weather with it, albeit with some brighter, drier spells.”