Parts of Britain enjoying a warm and sunny start to spring have been warned to get the winter coats back out.

A swathe of freezing air from the north pole is about to sweep across the UK sending temperatures plummeting across the country.

The mercury is forecast to sink to -4C (25F) in the north overnight with lows of below freezing everywhere apart from the far south.

Daytime temperatures this weekend will struggle to get much above 5C (41F) in the north with highs of around 9C (48F) elsewhere.

Forecasters have warned of a risk of snow across Scotland, northern England and even as far south as Wales, The Midlands and East Anglia.

The sudden u-turn in the weather comes after a nationwide split this week brought spring warmth to the south while the north continued to shiver.

Thermometers nudged 18C (64F) in Writtle, near Gloucestershire, on Tuesday while Scotland and the north sank below freezing.

The good news is things will start to warm up again next week as the topsy-turvy weather continues to keep Britain on its toes.

James Madden, forecaster for Exacta Weather, said chilly winds this weekend could make it feel close to -10C (14F) in parts.

He said: “An Arctic plunge of air is likely to hit the country throughout Friday and this weekend.

“There could be some wintry showers stretching to parts as far south as the Midlands, and some notable snow could fall in parts of the far north and Northern England.

“Even some much lower levels of the country may also be at risk of snowfall with night time temperatures ranging between -5C (23F) and -10C in some rural locations.

“However, we are now also nearing a more imminent pattern change to dominant high pressure, and this looks like settling down our weather across the British Isles throughout Sunday and into next week.”

The Met office said the south will remain mild over the next couple of days before turning colder at the weekend.

Forecaster Alex Burkill said thermometers will stay in double figures before dropping as cold northerly air moves southwards.

He said: “The pretty mild temperatures we have been seeing will not last much longer as we enter a cooler period from the weekend.

“There are two fronts pushing in, one from the north and another from the south, and there is some uncertainty over which one will win out.

“Friday will be quite a messy day with an unsettled picture across the UK with rain and some hill snow and perhaps some to lower levels.

Forecasters warned of a risk of snow across Scotland and northern England.

“Then there will be a bit of a change from earlier in the week with the south feeling much cooler with the one exception being the southeast which will see some sunny spells.

“Overnight frosts are likely on Thursday night into Friday with temperatures dropping from above average for the time of year to below.”

WeatherOnline forecaster Simon Keeling said: “High pressure will be fighting to affect the UK later this weekend and into next week.

“This brings drier weather to many areas, although the east is still going to be troubled with some showers.

“Feeling cool for all with a stiff breeze in more southern and eastern parts.”

Bookmakers are continuing to cash in on the up and down weather with punters now hedging their bets on spring snow.

– Telegraph.co.uk