From Tuesday, low pressure from the Atlantic will bring stronger winds and a band of rain sweeping across the UK.

It will be heavy at times in north-west England and North Wales. As the rain moves south, winds will turn northerly later, causing temperatures to drop.

By Wednesday, the UK will be dominated by cold, brisk north to north-west winds, reaching gale force in places. The day will feature sunny intervals and scattered showers, most frequent in northern Scotland, north-west England and north-west Wales. The showers will be wintry in nature with hail and thunder for some.

Despite the sunshine, temperatures will remain below average, with highs of 5–10°C nationwide, and the gusty winds will make it feel even colder.

Colder nights will bring a higher risk of sharper widespread frost, particularly in rural areas, with icy patches possible on untreated surfaces.

Towards the end of the working week, conditions are expected to remain changeable, with periods of rain continuing to move through. There are signs, however, that the weather may gradually become more settled as high pressure builds in from the south-west.

Temperatures could start to recover slightly as the weekend approaches, though it is unlikely they will reach the mild levels seen at the start of the week or during the previous week’s spring warmth.