Easter weather 2023: what is the Met Office UK forecast for four day bank holiday weekend?

We can expect a mix of weather conditions over the Easter weekend, including Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
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People can expect different weather conditions over the four day Easter bank holiday weekend, although generally their will be drier and brighter spells across the country.

The Met Office has issued an optimistic forecast for the upcoming bank holiday weekend, which takes place between 7 and 10 April. This will be welcome news for many, espcially those who want to take the opportunity to travel around the country and enjoy the great outdoors with their loved ones.

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The postitive outlook comes after the Met Office declared that March was the wettest it has been in the last 40 years, with the lowest temperature of -16C recorded in Altnaharra, Sutherland, in the Scottish Highlands. It seems as though the weather in April is set to improve, however, as the Met Office have predicted it get warmer - although there is the possibility of some unsettled spells by the middle of the month.

On the whole though, it seems as though spring may finally be here. But, what weather can we expect on Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday? Here’s what you need to know.

What weather can we expect on Good Friday and Easter Saturday?

The Easter bank holiday weekend will offer a "good deal of fine and settled weather", according to the Met Office. Forecasters have, however, warned that although we may indeed get good weather on Good Friday, the weather may not stay so good all the way through till Easter Monday and a weather system in the Atlantic is poised to introduce more unsettled conditions by 10 April.

Dan Suri, Met Office chief forecaster, said:  “Ahead of the Bank Holiday weekend, unsettled conditions will see bands of rain – with some heavy bursts in places – moving eastwards through the rest of Wednesday and early Thursday. As this clears a mixture of sunshine and showers will prevail for much of Thursday before a more settled pattern establishes for Good Friday and Easter Saturday as high pressure begins to build.”

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For many parts of the UK, Good Friday will be free of rain with spells of sunshine, particularly in the west. Eastern coastal areas, on the other hand, are likely to be cloudier and people there may experience some light rain or showers. There could even possibly be some fog patches from the North Sea. Temperatures may also struggle a little, and most can expect a cool start to Good Friday. There may be a frost in many western areas, although regions under sunnier skies will see temperatures rise as high as 16°C or 17°C during the day. 

David Oliver, Met Office deputy chief forecaster, said that conditions similar to these are likely to be seen across the UK on Easter Saturday.

The weather is expected to be good on Good Friday and Easter Saturday 2023 (Photo: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)The weather is expected to be good on Good Friday and Easter Saturday 2023 (Photo: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)
The weather is expected to be good on Good Friday and Easter Saturday 2023 (Photo: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)

What weather can we expect on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday?

Oliver warned that "during the second half of the Easter weekend the Atlantic will increasingly exert its influence" - and that is likely to bring wet weather. He said: “A frontal system is expected to move in from the west and displace the high pressure lying across the UK. This will spread rain across all areas during the latter part of Easter Sunday and through Easter Monday, although there is some uncertainty regarding its exact timing. Once the rain clears blustery showers are likely to follow in its wake across many areas.”

According to the Met Office long range forecast, Easter Monday may mark a week of unsettled weather acacrossrss the country. Experts believe that eastern and southeastern areas will be dry at first on Monday, but those in the north and west will have a damp start, with rain pushing eastwards across the rest of the UK through the day. Sunny spells and showers will follow from the west, some heavy at times, and it will be breezy with a risk of coastal gales in the north.  A period of unsettled weather with rain and strong winds, especially in the northwest, is then likely through the middle of next week.

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