Weather forecast: chilly temperatures set for first day of outdoor hospitality restrictions easing in England

Monday 12 April marks the first day of a number of restrictions easing across England including measures surrounding outdoor hospitality like beer gardens and outdoor dining areas.

Pub-goers are being urged to wrap up warm against the elements as chilly temperatures are in the forecast following a cold weekend which saw many areas around the UK experiencing snow.

‘Another cold day for all’

The Met Office says that Monday will be “another cold day for all”, with the addition of heavy rain and hill snow also predicted to hit Northern Ireland and west Wales in the morning.

The Met Office says that “southern parts of England and much of Wales [will] start rather cloudy with outbreaks of rain, sleet and some snow, clearing through the morning to leave sunny intervals and scattered showers”.

The weather forecaster said that rain showers will move south-eastwards throughout the day, hitting the Midlands by mid-morning and reaching the south coast by the afternoon and into the evening.

The Environment Agency has also issued six lower level flood alerts scattered across south-west England, warning residents of these areas to be prepared:

- Flamstead

- Kimpton and Lilley Bottom

- Newmarket

- Great Shefford area

- Nailbourne and Little Stour

- The River Burn from Southgate and Waterden to Burnham Thorpe

Minus temperatures on the horizon

The forecaster states that temperatures between 0C and -2C are expected in the early hours of the morning across Britain.

Residents in northern England and Scotland can expect to see a cold but sunny and dry start to their week.

Average midday temperatures will range from 6C in the Scottish isles to 12C in Cornwall, with 10C forecast for London and 7C in Manchester.

Tuesday will follow up with another chilly night, with freezing temperatures forecast across the UK.

The Met Office said that the rest of the week is set to be cold, but dry.

What changes are happening on 12 April?

As well as beer gardens and outdoor dining areas welcoming customers once again, the likes of non-essential shops, hairdressers, indoor gyms, swimming pools, nail salons and zoos in England will also be opening for the first time in 2021.

Social mixing indoors will remain heavily restricted, with around two in five adults still yet to receive their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine - and a majority yet to get both jabs.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged caution during what he called a “major step forward”.

He said: “I’m sure it will be a huge relief to those business owners who have been closed for so long, and for everyone else to get back to doing some of the things we love and have missed.

“I urge everyone to continue to behave responsibly and remember “hands, face, space and fresh hair” to suppress Covid as we push on with our vaccination programme.”