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Bring out your coat and brolly because Britain set for ‘cold plunge’


Bring out your coat and brolly because Britain set for ‘cold plunge’
Much of Britain is to experience wetter and cooler conditions this week following an unusually warm spell (Picture: PA)

Britain’s early spring warm spell is set to come to an abrupt end this week with the arrival of rain and colder temperatures.

Much of the country will see the mercury return to single figures after an unusually dry and sunny interlude to March.

An early heatwave saw temperatures rise as high as 20C last week in parts.

Scotland had its hottest day of the year so far on Friday, with a high of 20.2C recorded at Fyvie Castle in Aberdeenshire.

But it may be too early to put away the winter coats as the country is set to experience a ‘cold plunge’, the Met Office has said.

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From Monday, colder air and winds will see temperatures fall along with some showers towards the middle of the week and even possibly snow in Scotland.

People enjoy the sunshine as they take a punt tour along the River Cam in Cambridge. Picture date: Thursday March 19, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire
Boats pictured punting on the River Cam in Cambridge on Thursday (Picture: PA)
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock (16733445a) A pedestrian on Putney bridge shelters with an umbrella during a torrential downpour Seasonal Weather, Putney Bridge, London, UK - 06 Mar 2026
Showers will sweep across Britain from Wednesday as temperatures return to around average for this time of year (Picture: Shutterstock)

Meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said a new weather system coming in from the north west would turn conditions colder for most.

But he added that temperatures would stay in the mid teens for the vast majority of southern England until Wednesday.

He said: ‘Wet weather continues to spread south and eastwards through Tuesday.

‘Colder weather moving in from Wednesday. A notable drop in temperatures, wintry showers, particularly across the north of the UK and staying chilly into Thursday as well but a little drier.’

METRO TEMPERATURE MAP 25.03.2026 25TH MARCH 202 METRO GRAPHICS
Temperatures will drop to single-figures across the country on Wednesday (Graph: Metro)

Forecaster Alex Deakin said conditions would return to around average for the time of year later this week, Sky News reported.

But he added that the drop could be a ‘shock to the system’ for some after the warm spell.

He said: ‘Temperatures by Wednesday (will be) single digits for many, and that’s the max, so it’s going to get cold at night.

‘Probably the peak of that cold will be on Wednesday night, that’s when the cold plunge really comes in.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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