A mixed week of weather ahead

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Hollingworth Lake

If you're on half term this week you may be hoping for a bit of pre-spring sunshine.

However, you may be out of luck: the coming week is looking mainly cold for many with a mix of heavy rain, occasional snow, hail and strong winds.

The first half of the week will be dominated by spells of wind, rain and, in places, a bit of snow. It will turn a little bit drier later in the week with Thursday and Friday in particular looking a little brighter.

Chief Meteorologist Laura Paterson said: “Three yellow warnings have been issued for a spell of heavy rain, strong winds, snow and ice across different parts of the country on Tuesday morning. Further heavy rain, strong winds and hill snow is expected on Wednesday with blustery wintry showers following thereafter.

"As we head towards the weekend the trend towards drier and more settled conditions increases as high pressure looks likely to start building from the South West.

"Last week we highlighted that a Sudden Stratospheric Warming event could affect our weather later this month. This sudden stratospheric warming has now happened and we are monitoring its influence. There is a lag time between a sudden stratospheric warming and any impact it might deliver to UK weather conditions: so it is too soon to determine exactly what impacts it could have on our weather in the UK.

"However, there are some signs that high pressure could build over Europe resulting in an easterly flow. Although we wouldn’t expect continuously cold conditions, there is a greater chance of blocked conditions reccurring."