The Met Office has warned that no part of the UK will be “immune” from snowfall on Easter Monday as temperatures drop around the country.

Heavy snow and gale-force wind warnings are in place in northern Scotland, with as much as 15cm of snow predicted in higher areas and temperatures as low as -5C (23F).

The bitter turn comes as coronavirus restrictions are being lifted across the country and police are urging people to continue to respect the rules for their safety and the safety of others.

“After a taste of summer for a lot of the UK we will see things turn much colder as we go through the second half of the Easter weekend,” said Craig Snell, forecaster for the Met Office.

“A lot of the UK will be prone to seeing some wintry showers as we go through the course of Monday but northern Scotland is where we’ll see the heaviest and most frequent snow,” Mr Snell warned.

“That’s where there’s most concern that we might see some disruption.”

He added that although it wasn’t unusual to see snow at this time of year, the weather will come as a “shock to the system” following the hottest March temperatures for 53 years.

The reading was recorded in Kew Gardens on Tuesday afternoon where it reached 24.5C (76.1F), according to the Met Office – the highest March temperature since 1968.

The Met Office said temperatures would decline steadily across the UK and by Monday most parts would struggle to reach double digits due to the country entering an “Arctic trough”.

“Nowhere is going to be immune from potentially seeing some snow showers on Monday, even down towards the southwest of England,” said Mr Snell.

“As it comes further south, it will fall from the sky but it probably won’t settle because the ground will be warm enough that as soon as it lands it will just melt. But anyone in the UK may see some flakes falling if they’re looking out of the window.”

Related posts:

Man suspected of killing one of UK’s richest men stopped by armed police after 100-mile drive Tragedy and triumph: Facts and figures about Prince Philip’s life A nation in mourning: Stream of people visits Palace and Windsor as public pays respects ‘It’s every single day’: Female footballer says online abuse is getting worse 29 men charged over alleged child sexual exploitation of female victim in West Yorkshire UK records another 7,742 COVID cases and three deaths ahead of roadmap announcement Family of investigator killed with axe hope for answers as long-awaited report due Fresh arrest made over social media racist abuse of England footballers England star Jadon Sancho says ‘hate will never win’ as he hits back at online racist abuse Serial killer Stephen Port’s first victim may have been dead for more than a day before being found, inquest hears Restaurants, bars and festivals helped economy pick up in August after rules eased UK records 40,375 new COVID cases and 145 deaths