BRITS have been soaking up 16C sunshine this afternoon ahead of an “Arctic plunge” tomorrow which will see temperatures plummet to -7C.

Snow warnings have been issued as the UK braces for an extreme change in the weather.

The Met Office said that no part of the country would be “immune” from snowfall on Easter Monday as temperatures across Britain continue to drop.

An “Arctic trough” will then see the Mercury plunge to -3C.

The colder weather coincides with the easing of coronavirus restrictions across the country and police have urged people to continue to respect the rules.

There will be a “massive step down” in temperatures tonight into tomorrow – as all areas across the UK approach freezing.

The ‘thundersnow’ phenomenon combines stormy weather with wintry showers and happens when air closer to the ground is warmer than above but it is still cold enough to snow.

Grahame Madge, a spokesperson for the Met Office told the Sun Online: “The real cold is coming in late on Sunday and into Monday, and by Monday most places in UK will be subject to this Arctic plunge.

“It will be bringing wintery showers to northern England and Scotland, but we could also see wintery showers anywhere sporadically, and what we will see is likely to be hail, sleet, or snow.”

Read our live blog below for the latest weather news and updates…

MET OFFICE FORECAST FOR TONIGHT

Bands of cloud and rain move southwards across the UK, reaching southern England late in the night.

Clear spells follow, along with colder and windier weather.

Wintry showers also following into northern and far eastern UK.
WATCH: BRITS SOAK UP SUN BEFORE TEMPS PLUMMET

Brits hit beaches and parks to soak up 16C sun before SNOW brings -7C ‘Arctic barrage’ tomorrow
AFFECTED REGIONS: SNOW AND WIND WARNING
- Central, Tayside & Fife (snow)
- Grampian (snow)
- Highlands & Eilean Siar (snow and wind)
- Orkney & Shetland (snow and wind)
- Strathclyde (snow)

YELLOW WEATHER WARNING FOR SNOW AND WIND

Frequent snow and hail showers, accompanied by a very strong northerly wind may lead to some disruption from later Sunday.

The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for snow and wind, in force from now until Tuesday at 10am.

A very cold northerly airflow will become established across the UK through Sunday night and Monday morning.

Very strong north to northwest winds will spread hail and snow showers inland across many areas, but the most frequent showers will affect northern Scotland.

Up 10 15cm of snow possible in places!
MET OFFICE: NO REGIONS OF THE UK ‘IMMUNE’ FROM SNOW ON MONDAY

Met Office forecaster Craig Snell has said that no region in the UK is “immune” from snow this Monday.

He said: “Nowhere is going to be immune from potentially seeing some snow showers on Monday, even down towards the south west of England.

“But 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.”
‘FINE’ EASTER SUNDAY EVENING FOR MANY

Those living in England and Wales can enjoy a “fine” Easter evening after basking in sunshine and highs of 16C this afternoon.

But a band of cloud, rain and snow showers is set to push in from the north as temperatures look set to plummet.

Tomorrow’s weather will be far from the blue skies and balmy temperatures enjoyed today.
10 FLOOD ALERTS IN PLACE

The Environment Agency has issued flood alerts for 10 places.

Those living in the area should “be prepared as flooding is possible”.

The areas affected are:
- Groundwater flooding in Chesham
- Groundwater flooding in Flamstead
- Groundwater flooding in Kimpton and Lilley Bottom
- Groundwater flooding in Newmarket
- Groundwater flooding in the Great Shefford area
- Nailbourne and Little Stour
- North Sea coast from Staithes to Whitby including tidal River Esk
- North Sea coast from Whitby to Filey
- River Nar in Norfolk
- The River Burn from Southgate and Waterden to Burnham Thorpe
IN PICS: BRITS SOAK UP EASTER SUNDAY SUNSHINE

Crowds of people have flocked to beaches and parts alike today to soak up the Easter Sunday sunshine.

Temperatures have reached highs of 16C this afternoon before they’re set to plummet tonight and tomorrow.

Make the most of the balmy sun and blue skies today!

Members of the public relax and enjoy the warm weather in Greenwich Park, LondonCredit: LNP

Crowds flock to the seaside resort of Lyme Regis to make the best of the balmy sunshine and blue skies before temperatures plunge next weekCredit: Alamy

Easter bunnies Lucy (left) and Ayesha (right) had a fun time dressing up on Easter Sunday afternoon in HoveCredit: David McHugh / Brighton Pictures
BRITAIN TO BE COLDER THAN MOSCOW TOMORROW

Ferocious wind chill will see 2-7C early afternoon temperatures tomorrow feel like -2C in the South and -5C in Scotland – while Moscow is due 8C.

Met Office forecaster Sarah Kent said: “It’s Arctic maritime air, which does mean it’s coming from the Arctic. So it’s going to be cold for everybody, but also windy too. The wind chill is going to be significant.”

Southern England can expect to see some sunshine but gusts of up to 30mph will make the temperature feel colder, she added.

Snow warnings are in place for northern Scotland, with as much as 5in falling in higher areas.

The Met Office’s yellow warnings are in place from 4pm on Sunday until 10am on Tuesday for Scotland, with winds of up to 70mph forecast.

MET OFFICE OUTLOOK FOR TUESDAY TO THURSDAY

Very cold and windy with further wintry showers on Tuesday, easing through Wednesday but remaining cold.

Less cold through Thursday, but with rain and strong winds returning to the north.
TEMPS WILL FEEL MUCH LOWER THAN THEY ARE TOMORROW

Temperatures are set to plummet tomorrow – and will feel even colder thanks to a bitter wind.
THIS IS SNOW JOKE!

By Easter Monday morning, there could be as much as 15cm of snow in higher areas.

The Met Office’s yellow warnings are in place from 6pm on Sunday until 10am Tuesday.

Craig Snell, forecaster for the Met Office, said: “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.

“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.

“That’s where there’s most concern that we might see some disruption.”
WEATHER WARNINGS IN PLACE UNTIL TUESDAY NIGHT

The Met Office has issued a series of weather warnings for snow and wind in places.

The first come in force this evening, with temperatures set to plummet tonight.

Frequent heavy snow showers will affect northern Scotland on Sunday night and Monday and may lead to some travel disruption.
SALES OF OUTDOOR HEATERS BOOM AS TEMPS DROP

Sales of patio heaters, firepits and gazebos have soared as families reunite outdoors in the chilly weather over Easter.

Millions are making the most of lockdown easing and meeting for the first time in over three months after Christmas get-togethers were scrapped

But with indoor socialising still banned until May 17, demand for outdoor heaters and firepits is up sixfold on eBay.

Gazebo sales are up sevenfold, online marketplace ManoMano said.

John Lewis and Argos warned they were selling out of garden furniture.
TWO COLD FRONTS TO PUSH SOUTHWARDS

Many of us are basking in the sunshine this afternoon – but enjoy it while it lasts.

Two cold fronts pushing southwards will sending temperatures plummeting tonight.

It’s set to be a chilly Easter Monday, with not part of the country “immune” to snow.

HOW RARE IS THUNDERSNOW IN THE UK?

It is incredibly rare in the UK, but it is still possible. less than five in a quiet year to 20 or more in an active one

Met Office meteorologist Emma Sharples said: “It is possible, all that really needs is for thunder to happen at the same time as the snow.

“So where you get very active or vigorous showers… then we could well get some thunder as well. It is definitely possible.”

Interestingly the snow muffles the sound of the thunder crashing in the sky but the lightning flashes will seem even brighter thanks to the whiteness of the snow reflecting it.
TEMPS TO PLUMMET TONIGHT

Temperatures are set to drop tonight after a sunny Easter Sunday.

Met Office forecaster Sarah Kent said: “We will see this plunge of much colder conditions coming in.

“It’s Arctic maritime air, which does mean it’s coming from the Arctic.

“So it’s going to be cold for everybody, but also windy too.

“The wind chill is going to be significant.”
THUNDERSNOW TO BLAST BRITAIN ON EASTER MONDAY

Thundersnow will blast Britain on Easter Monday as temperatures fall to -5C overnight.

No part of the country is expected to be immune from the artic plunge.

Thundersnow is a rare phenomenon which mainly has snow instead of rain.

Sky News weather producer Joanna Robinson added: “Thundersnow is possible – a thunderstorm that occurs with wintry precipitation. It’s quite rare.

“The lightning can appear brighter because of the light reflecting off the snowflakes, whereas the sound can be dampened down.”
TONIGHT’S FORECAST

Band of rain, with snow on back edge coming quickly south into central parts by dawn, according to the Met Office.

Much colder behind with sleet and snow showers in north.

Gales in the northeast.
SUNNY EASTER SUNDAY

People have been enjoying the sunshine on Sandbanks beach today.

Credit: w8media

IN DETAIL: WEATHER WARNING FOR TUESDAY

Frequent hail and snow showers will continue through the early hours onwards into Tuesday morning, the Met Office says.

Further accumulations of 1-2 cm of snow are likely for some with higher accumulations likely on some hills and mountains.

Conditions will also remain windy with some drifting of snow possible.
NEW YELLOW WEATHER WARNING ISSUED FOR TUESDAY

The Met Office has issued another yellow weather for snow, which will be in force from midnight to 10am on Tuesday.

Frequent snow and hail showers may lead to travel disruption.
TODAY’S FORECAST

Early frost will clear, followed by spells of warm sunshine for much of England and Wales, according to the Met Office.

Cloudier further north and becoming windy across Scotland where a band of rain will come south this afternoon introducing a change to much colder conditions.

A band of rain, with snow on back edge coming quickly south into central parts by dawn.

Much colder behind with sleet and snow showers in north. Gales in the northeast.
ODDS-ON FOR EASTER SNOWFALL

Snow will fall across the Easter weekend, according to the latest odds from Ladbrokes.

As the thermometer starts to drop over the next couple of days, it’s now odds-on that snowflakes are seen falling in any part of the country before the end of Easter Monday (1/4).

The price on offer that Easter 2021 notches up a new record as the coldest ever is 2/1.

Jessica O’Reilly of Ladbrokes said: “All bets are off when it comes to Easter snowfall this year. It looks like parts of the country will spend the weekend shivering indoors instead of sizzling in the sunshine.”