Changeable conditions with a marked north–south split before Storm Dave
Author: Met Office
03:00 (UTC+1) on Fri 3 Apr 2026
A distinctly changeable spell of weather is expected through Good Friday and Easter Saturday, with notable differences between northern and southern parts of the UK.
While the south sees generally milder air and some fine spells, the north remains cooler, breezier and more unsettled at times.
Good Friday: unsettled in the north, milder further south
Friday will bring a pronounced north–south contrast. Scotland and Northern Ireland will be cooler, with temperatures widely between 5 and 8°C, though sheltered eastern parts may reach 9 to 11°C. Frequent showers are expected in the north and northwest, some of these showers will be heavy and accompanied by hail or thunder, with wintry precipitation over higher ground as snow levels steadily lower during the day. Strong winds will add to the chilly feel, with locally severe gusts possible around exposed northern coasts and islands.
Further south across England and Wales, conditions will be much milder. Cloudy and breezy weather will dominate initially, with outbreaks of rain clearing slowly east or southeast, though rain may linger across southern areas. Where brighter spells develop, temperatures will commonly reach 12 to 14°C, with the potential for values as high as 17°C in central and eastern areas if sunshine breaks through.
Clearer spells overnight across Scotland and Northern Ireland will allow temperatures to fall sharply, with widespread frost in sheltered areas and rural minimum temperatures of -1 to -3°C. Showers will continue in the north and northwest, these will be wintry over hills, though activity will gradually ease from the south. In contrast, the far south will remain cloudier and milder, with temperatures staying in the high single figures or low double figures along some southern coasts.
Easter Saturday: Storm Dave arrives later
Saturday will begin with a frosty start for many, particularly away from cloudier southern areas, while a few showers affect the far north. A band of cloud will extend north‑eastwards through the day, bringing patchy rain, with heavier and more persistent outbreaks across the far north where snow will continue over hills.
By afternoon a narrow band of squally rain will move south‑eastwards and winds will strengthen across north‑western areas as Storm Dave approaches. A number of Yellow severe weather warnings for wind have been issued covering the whole of Scotland, Northern Ireland north Wales and parts of northern England. The medium impact Yellow warnings are likely to be updated as confidence in the detail of the severe weather increases.
Across all warning areas gusts of 50-60mph are expected widely, with 60-70mph gusts possible in exposed locations. The strongest gusts will be in Scotland, where there is a small chance of gusts up to 80-90mph for a short time in exposed locations.
The wind speeds will peak at different times as the deep area of low pressure moves across the north of the UK, with peak gusts in Northern Ireland expected earlier on Saturday afternoon before spreading more widely across the north of the UK.
As well as strong winds heavy snow is likely to cause disruption, with accumulations of 5-10cm possible at location over 200m in elevation in northern Scotland. Some areas could see 10-20cm and with strong wind blizzards and drifting snow will be an additional hazard. A Yellow warning for snow has also been issued for 15:00 Saturday to 03:00 Sunday covering northwest Scotland.
Deputy Chief Forecaster, Tom Crabtree, said: “Storm Dave will form and rapidly deepen on Saturday as it approaches the UK from the west. By Saturday afternoon winds will strengthen significantly, with gusts of 60-70mph expected at times across parts of Scotland with the potential for gusts of 80-90mph in exposed coastal locations in Scotland. Gusts of 50-60mph are likely more widely in northern Britain.
“As well as strong winds, Storm Dave will also bring heavy snowfall over the hills in northern Scotland where up to 10-20cm of snow could accumulate. Along with the strong winds this will lead to blizzard conditions. Elsewhere there will be heavy spells of rain as the system moves through eastwards across the UK. With Storm Dave a few days away, people should prepare their property for the strong winds and keep updated with the latest weather forecast as the weather warnings are likely to be updated.”
