Unseasonably cool air spreads across UK as showers and frost forecast

Temperatures are dipping across the UK as chilly air sets in across the country.

Daytime highs on Wednesday will be just below the average for the time of year, marking a big change from the spring warmth that lifted temperatures above 25C (77F) in some places last week.

However, swings in temperatures are common in spring and this week's weather is far from unusual for May.

Showers feature in the forecast - some of which could even contain snow over Scottish mountains - but many areas will remain largely dry over the next few days.

Wednesday is set to be the coolest day of the week for many, after a frosty start in places.

Parts of northern England and Scotland will see plenty of sunshine during the morning, with cloudier conditions in Northern Ireland and Wales - as well as central and southern England.

By the afternoon most parts of the UK will have a mix of patchy cloud, sunny spells and scattered showers.

Maximum temperatures will range from 9 to 15C (48-59F), a degree or two below the norm for early May.

Frost could return to a few places on Wednesday night with temperatures widely dropping into single digits.

However things will start to change a little on Thursday with low pressure moving close to the north-west of the UK, bringing more of a southerly wind.

This will lift temperatures slightly, approaching the seasonal norm in many locations.

A few showers are expected but southern and eastern areas that experienced a very dry April are unlikely to have much - if any - rainfall over the next few days.

Hay fever sufferers may find some relief with pollen forecast to stay low in most areas, while UV levels are generally forecast to be moderate.

Spring is a transition season, notorious for big ups and downs in temperature.

The UK's highest May temperature was 32.8C (91F), recorded at locations in London and south-east England on 29 May 1944.

Last year brought the warmest ever start to May with a high of 29.3C (84.7F) at Kew Gardens, London on 1 May 2025.

However cold weather is also very possible.

In May 1941 overnight temperatures at Lynford, Norfolk fell to -9.4C (15.1F) on both the fourth and 11th of the month.

Significant snow can also occur.

Birmingham had its worst May snowstorm for 60 years in 1955, and wintry weather returned to the city on 2 May 1979 with snow blanketing many areas for the bank holiday.

So while it may feel a little chilly at times, and a few flakes of snow are possible over northern hills, this week is certainly nothing extreme or unusual for this time of year.

During Friday and the weekend temperatures are expected to rise a little, especially in the south of the UK.

Parts of Wales, the Midlands and southern England could see highs of 17-20C (63-68F) by Saturday, with 10-16C (50-61F) more likely further north.

Most computer weather models allow wetter weather to develop for a time, before cool northerly winds return next week.

However there is some uncertainty in the longer-range prospects.

You can always check the most up-to-date forecast for your area by checking the BBC Weather website and app.