As the UK basks in an unusual early summer, Norfolk is set to surpass Lisbon in warmth this week, with temperatures expected to soar to 22°C. The Met Office forecasts that this unseasonably warm weather will grace the region on Thursday, April 10, Friday, April 11, and Saturday, April 12, 2025. In comparison, Lisbon is predicted to peak at 19°C, with a chance of rain looming over the Portuguese capital.
This marks the second consecutive week of pleasant weather for Norfolk, which enjoyed hotter temperatures than Malta just last Friday, April 4, 2025. The sunny spell is a welcome change, especially following the dry conditions that characterized March 2025, which was declared the driest March since 1929 by the Norfolk Rainfall Association.
While residents are eager to take advantage of the warm weather, the Met Office warns that this pleasant spell may not last. As April progresses, forecasters are predicting a shift in conditions, with air masses of Arctic origin expected to sweep into the UK, bringing cooler temperatures and possibly even snow.
According to BBC Weather, the respite from warmth is likely to come abruptly, as WXCHARTS weather maps indicate that snow could hit parts of Scotland by midnight on Monday, April 14, 2025. Areas such as Lochcarron and Gairloch in the Highlands are expected to bear the brunt of the snowfall, which could accumulate up to 3cm in the worst-hit regions.
By 6am on April 14, heavy downpours will also affect large parts of Scotland, with the North West of England facing significant rainfall, forecasted at up to 3mm per hour. The snow is expected to continue into central Scotland and parts of northern England, where up to 1cm of snow could fall per hour by midnight on April 15.
Beyond Scotland, the East Midlands and the North West are also bracing for rainfall, with Manchester predicted to see 4mm of rain every hour. The Met Office has cautioned that a gradual transition to more unsettled weather is on the horizon, with Atlantic frontal systems moving in from the west. This shift could herald a wetter period through mid-April, characterized by heavy and thundery showers in some areas.
As the UK enjoys its brief heatwave, meteorologist Jim Dale from British Weather Services noted that the high pressure currently dominating the weather is likely to shift by the weekend. He stated, "The break in this pattern is likely to happen at the weekend, perhaps later in the weekend around Sunday or Monday." While temperatures are expected to hover six or seven degrees above average, the warm weather could bring the hottest day of the year thus far, with predictions of temperatures nudging 25°C by Friday or Saturday.
Despite the impending change in weather, optimism remains high among bookmakers, who have slashed the odds on April becoming a record-breaking month for heat. Coral has offered odds of 3-1 to 4-1 on this possibility, while meteorologists warn that the weather could become more changeable, particularly across the south and west of the UK.
In the meantime, Britons are urged to enjoy the sunshine while it lasts, with plenty of blue skies expected in the coming days. Met Office meteorologist Kathryn Chalk emphasized that the week ahead would bring ample sunshine, stating, "There is plenty more sunshine on offer as we go through the week, and this is all due to high pressure dominating bringing fine, dry and settled conditions and lighter winds compared to what we have had in recent days."
As the country prepares for a potential weather rollercoaster, the juxtaposition of soaring temperatures in the south and impending snowfall in the north serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of British weather. With the promise of both sunshine and snow, residents are left to wonder how long the warmth will last before the rain returns.
