UK weather: Easter set to be PLAGUED by Beast from the East 3.0 and bitter SIBERIAN AIR

Weather maps show that by Thursday March 29 temperatures are set to take a frightening plunge.

This dramatic change in conditions is predicted to last until the start of April.

Bookmaker Coral has slashed its odds on a white Easter this year.

The firm slashed the odds to 5-4 from 4-1 for snow to fall in any major UK city over the Easter weekend.

Coral’s Harry Aitkenhead stated: “We’re used to seeing betting on a White Christmas but the truly remarkable weather conditions we’ve seen so far in 2018 now means a White Easter is a genuine possibility for the UK this year.

“There’s hope that temperatures will begin to rise, however a sudden stratospheric warming often brings more bouts of cold with it and we can’t rule out an arctic April.”

Meanwhile, a band of milder air means that Wednesday figures will reach double digits thanks to more frequent sunny spells.

Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern explained: “Thickening cloud, a freshening breeze and outbreaks of rain will move in towards northern parts of the country on Wednesday morning.

“The heaviest rain will be over western hills of Scotland but there will be dribs and drabs elsewhere in the north and there will be one or two spots in towards north-Wales towards the end of the afternoon.

“For much of England and Wales there will be sunny spells and they will continue well into Wednesday afternoon.

“I think temperatures are responding well, the top and tail of the country will be into double figures, 10 or 11 degrees Celsius.”

Although rain will plague eastern and north-eastern parts of the UK on Thursday, much of the country will remain dry and temperatures could reach 13 degrees Celsius.

Mr McGivern went on: “Weather fronts are generally moving across northern parts of Britain through Wednesday night and as we go into the hours of darkness we will see outbreaks of generally showery rain sink down the east coast while thicker cloud returns into western Scotland.

“It will stay generally damp and there will be cloudier skies for Northern Ireland and western parts of England and Wales.

“But there will be some clear air in south Wales and the south-west of England and a few spots in the far north-east as well.

“So although generally there is a milder airflow that covers much of the country, we will see a few pockets of frost still across some sheltered spots.

“It will be a bright start of the day for much of England and Wales on Wednesday, the cloud in the east will tend to push away and for much of the country and for much of the time on Thursday it will be a fine day.

“Sunny spells and temperatures will reach 12, maybe 13 degrees Celsius in East Anglia and the south-east.

“The winds will come from the south-west, we are into that milder, more spring-like air.

“However things take a downturn in the west and the north-west towards the end of the day.

“There will be thicker cloud and outbreaks of consistent rain returning and a freshening breeze.”