What a difference a couple of days makes! Bournemouth beach cold and grey after weekend’s sunshine

A cold and grey Bournemouth beach was deserted today just days after sun-seekers flocked to the seaside over the weekend – as temperatures are set to plunge across the country this week amid a Met Office weather warning for snow and ice in Scotland.  

Temperatures soared to 20C in parts of the UK on Saturday as the sun shone over the Spring weekend.

However, the Met Office has now forecast a ‘cold snap’ over the coming days as cold Arctic air arrives from the north.

A yellow weather warning is also in place for snow and ice across Scotland, with showers expected to lead to ‘ice forming on untreated surfaces and hazardous driving conditions’.

Temperatures have already started to drop across the UK, with cloudy skies expected for most of today as a band of rain gradually moves southwards from Scotland. 

A spokesperson for the Met Office told MailOnline that snowflakes could land on parts of the UK this week.

They said: ‘Snow and ice is expected tomorrow across Scotland. Wintry showers will result in a couple of centimetres of snow on land above 100 metres and up to 5cm above 200 metres. 

‘On ground level, these wintry showers will fall as a mixture of rain and sleet. The band of wintry showers will be sinking south on Wednesday, continuing to fall on lower ground as rain and sleet. 

‘Thursday will be a mix of showers. The weather is very uncertain in lower areas, so that does not mean there will not be some snowflakes mixed in, but the snow is unlikely to hang around and will become slush or quickly melt away.

‘Temperatures will drop to -8C in isolated rural areas of Scotland on Thursday, while it will be sub-zero across the UK overnight.’

Maximum temperatures are likely to drop to just single figures in most areas of Britain, the forecast added.

The unsettled theme is forecast to continue through to the weekend, with the cold front ‘clearing the far southeast’.  

What a difference a couple of days make. The beach in Bournemouth was filled with sun-seekers over the Spring weekend (left), but looked cold, grey and empty this morning (right)

An empty Bournemouth beach this morning as temperatures drop amid wintry showers forecast to fall on most of the UK this week

It was a very different picture on Sunday when the crowds, including many topless individuals, flocked to Bournemouth beach equipped with towels and deck chairs

People huddled under blankets as they go for a punt on the River Cam in Cambridge on Tuesday lunchtime as the recent warm spell comes to an abrupt end

Temperatures are likely to gradually recover to near-average over the weekend and into next week, though further rainfall is forecast. 

The Met Office says the change in conditions is a result of the high pressure – which was responsible for the dry and mild weather of last week – shifting out to the south, introducing colder Arctic air in from the north. 

Met Office Chief Meteorologist Steve Willington said: ‘Cold and unsettled weather is taking charge over much of the UK this week, as cold air is drawn in from the north and brings with it the risk of rain, sleet and snow.

‘Although there’s still some uncertainty on the exact positioning of snow showers, the trend is for a mix of sleet and snow to fall as a cold front moves from the north to the south from late on Tuesday through to Thursday morning. 

‘Some clear spells are still around later in the week, with the best of any sunshine likely to be in the south and west of the UK, albeit feeling cold compared to last week.’

The colder spell is also expected to provide issues for the nation’s gardeners, who benefitted from the milder temperatures over the weekend. 

The long beach in Bournemouth, Dorset, filled with weekend visitors taking in the Mother’s Day sunshine on Sunday

Families gathered at Durdle Door, in Dorset, to enjoy the Sunday sunshine on the sandy shore

Paddleboarders wearing blue and yellow in the River Stour in Christchurch, Dorset, as part of the Paddle for Peace event on Saturday 

Children enjoyed a paddle in the water at Bournemouth beach, as they spent Mother’s Day on the shore

The Royal Horticultural Society’s Guy Barter said: ‘Colder weather will slow plant growth and inhibit plums and pears pollination as insects fly less in cold dull weather.

‘Limited rain will help new sowings of peas and carrots for example and newly planted lettuces and other plants but should not greatly delay sowing and planting once conditions improve. 

‘Tender plants, petunias and tomatoes for example, won’t be put outside for another month at least but lower light affects greenhouses and will slow their growth.’