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London experienced severe hailstorms and lightning on Wednesday as an unexpected Arctic blast hit the capital. Streets and pavements were pelted by hail, forcing commuters and residents to seek shelter as temperatures dropped sharply.
According to BBC Weather forecasts, temperatures were expected to plummet to 2°C in London on Wednesday night, with daytime highs reaching only 10°C on Thursday.
Across the UK, strong north-westerly winds, with some areas experiencing gale-force conditions, brought a mix of rain, sleet, hail, and snow, with snow reported in parts of northern Scotland.
Even when the sun broke through, temperatures felt significantly colder, ranging from 5°C to 10°C nationwide.
Rural areas in Scotland might see overnight lows of -5°C before temperatures gradually return to average levels starting Friday.
This sudden cold snap follows a recent period of unseasonably warm weather, where temperatures exceeded 20°C last week in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland—well above the March average of 9–12°C.
The warmth was attributed to a persistent high-pressure system that reduced cloud cover, combined with easterly winds that created a Foehn effect, in which descending air from higher terrain boosts temperatures.
Forecasters indicate that the mild, sunny conditions enjoyed last week are expected to return next week, providing Londoners with a brief respite after the icy blast.
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Steven Keates said: “After a spell of mild and brighter weather, the UK will turn increasingly unsettled in the coming days.
“A series of weather fronts will bring periods of rain, strong winds and much colder air by midweek.
“Wednesday could be quite a shock to the system. Temperatures will range from 6C to 10C, but it will feel closer to low single figures for many areas in the wind.
“Wintry showers are likely, especially over higher ground in the north, and a widespread frost – with icy patches for some – is possible on Wednesday night.
“It should be a little milder again by the end of the week, with many areas seeing another spell of rain on Friday.”
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