Spring, what spring? Cold snap to last 'beyond Easter'

SPRING officially begins this week but forecasters are warning of a prolonged cold snap across the UK which will continue until the beginning of April. 

The Daily Telegraph reports temperatures could drop to as low as minus 15C overnight in the north of England while Scotland and southeast England also face heavy snow and freezing temperatures. Temperatures would normally be well into double figures by this time of year.

The Met Office has released a yellow weather warning for the north of England: icy conditions and "heavy snow" are predicted. Forecaster Helen Roberts said there was unlikely to be any respite from the cold snap despite Wednesday's spring equinox marking the end of the winter in the northern hemisphere.

"On Tuesday and Wednesday there will be some spells of sunshine but also some wintry showers, which will make it feel colder than it is,” said Roberts. "Daytime temperatures will be coming down a little bit, to around 5C. It's cold for the time of year. We should be looking at temperatures well into double figures.”

She added: "Unfortunately it looks like the weather will continue this way towards the end of March into the beginning of April."

Britain may have faced snow and wintry weather this March but temperatures have not plunged anywhere near the nation's record lows. As the Telegraph notes, on 14 March 1958, the temperature fell to -22.8C in Logie Coldstone, Aberdeenshire. ·