New weather maps show a huge snow and rain storm battering the UK (Image: Getty/WX Charts)
New show a huge and rain storm bashing Britain, with seven major cities hit. A map generated today (March 17) by WX Charts shows rain or snow in Plymouth, Cardiff, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and Belfast by midday on March 28.
Greater Manchester looks set for some 7mm of rain per hour, while Newcastle could see 2.5mm, Birmingham 1mm and Cardiff 1.5mm, according to WX Charts. If the maps prove accurate this far ahead, then Belfast should get 1cm of snow per hour.
The same maps show snow or rain hitting almost the whole country at midday on March 28, apart from Scotland, which looks almost entirely clear, apart from the Outer Hebrides and Orkney Islands, where rain persists.
According to another WX Charts map showing minimum temperatures, the country will feel the chill with 6C in the Midlands, 3-4C in Wales, 7C in Cornwall and 2C in Scotland at midday on March 28.
That will be a stark contrast to parts of the UK this week, where some spots are set to be warmer than holiday hotspots in Corfu and Ibiza on the first day of spring.
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A weather map shows snow and rain across England, Wales and Northern Ireland at midday on March 28. (Image: WX Charts)
The mercury could hit 19C in the south of England on Thursday (March 20), which marks the spring equinox. meteorologist Becky Mitchell said this is eight degrees warmer than the average for the time of year.
She said: “We’re expecting quite a lot of dry weather, increasing amounts of sunshine as we head through the next few days. By Wednesday, we’re looking at highs of about 17C in the south. And then on Thursday, we could get as high as 19C.”
This is estimated to be hotter than Ibiza, which is forecast to have highs of 17C on Thursday, and Corfu with forecasted highs of 16C.
Ms Mitchell said that while this week promises warmer temperatures, the start of the week will still feel chilly, with some overnight frost.
It will feel spring-like, with “nice warm weather”, according to the meteorologist, who explained that this will be the result of a large area of high pressure.
She added: “Parts of the South East, across the Midlands will be the warmest spots on Wednesday and then on Thursday that warmth travels a bit further north so it’s going to feel pretty warm across southern Scotland, Northern Ireland and the whole of England and Wales.
“There’s really just northern Scotland that will keep hold of the colder weather through the middle of the week.”
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This map shows minimum temperatures in single figures at midday on March 28 (Image: WX Charts)
Met Office UK five-day weather forecast
Monday, March 17 – Friday, March 21
Headline: A cloudy start this week, but becoming brighter and warmer midweek.
Today has seen a bright start across northern Scotland, but it has been otherwise rather cloudy, with any rain largely fading away. Skies will brighten across eastern and central England later. The far south coasts will be breezy.
Tonight, we will see clearer skies continuing to filter further northwest, although the far northwest will probably stay mostly cloudy. Widespread frost will develop away from the far south, where it stays breezy.
It will be a cold, frosty start to Tuesday, but this will give way to a largely sunny day for many. Some exposed coasts will be breezy, especially in the southwest.
Mid-week will be generally fine, settled with lots of sunshine and feeling warmer during the day. There will still be night-time frosts. It is likely to turn more unsettled from the south on Friday.