Snow for some as winter weather returns to UK this week

After a taste of spring-like warmth across the UK, single-digit temperatures are set to return this week with the chance of snow for some.

Although March is commonly when the Sun starts to feel considerably warmer, the air over the far northern Atlantic remains cold.

A number of fronts are set to progressively bring this colder air from the north-west across the UK.

We will also see some windy weather, limited to Scotland on Wednesday but more widely across the UK on Thursday with gales or severe gales for some.

The mist and fog that have been in abundance in many areas will be swept away by strong winds coming in off the Atlantic.

This change is being brought about by the ramping up of the jet stream, delivering a succession of weather fronts and areas of low pressure with increasingly wet conditions.

There is even the possibility of wintry showers by the end of the week as northwesterlies drag in colder air from the Arctic region.

While it is expected to be a little too breezy for widespread overnight frosts, some prone locations may dip to freezing where skies clear between weather fronts.

Temperatures will fall to around three or four degrees below average on Friday but strong winds will perhaps make it feel much colder.

Fast-moving hail showers are possible almost anywhere and brief flurries of wet snow are not out of the question, even in the south.

However, snow is unlikely to settle there.

Most of any accumulating snow is only really likely on the mountains and higher ground of Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England. Some could also be possible in Wales and south-west England.

There is the possibility of further wintry showers in the forecast for Sunday.

Before the colder weather arrives on Friday, many of us will experience some strong winds.

On Wednesday a deep area of low pressure to the north of the UK will bring a strengthening wind to Scotland with gusts up to 70mph (110km/h) possible.

The Met Office has issued a yellow severe weather warning for northern and western Scotland from 00:00 to 12:00 GMT on Wednesday.

They suggest that in some locations the gusts may touch 80mph (130km/h) and the strong winds may bring minor disruption to the transport network such as bridge restrictions and ferry cancellations.

Widely across Scotland and Northern Ireland gusts of 40-50mph (65-80km/h) are also forecast.

By Thursday the strongest winds across western Scotland will have eased but it will turn windy quite widely across the UK.

Gust of 40-50mph (65-80km/h) will be seen widely, up to 60mph (97km/h) around western coasts of England and Wales and 65mph (105km/h) in northern and western Scotland.

We then need to keep an eye on the forecast for the weekend.

Another deep area of low pressure will pass to the south of Iceland with strong winds on its southern flank across the UK.

Temperatures should rise over the weekend to around average for the time of year but with some strong winds in the forecast, it will still probably feel rather cold at times.

The weather does then look like calming down again into next week with an area of high pressure building.

However, it is still only the start of spring and it is typical to get big swings in weather at this time of year.

You can stay up to date with our latest BBC Weather monthly outlook here.