Multiple parts of the UK could be hit by snow storms very soon, according to new forecasts.

maps from WXCharts show wintry showers sweeping in from the north on Saturday 29 March. Up to 5cm per hour could be falling in the early hours, with Cumbria, the Borders, and parts of the western coast of seeing the heaviest accumulations. This band of is then set to expand to a large area stretching approximately 500 miles from Invernesshire to , covering practically all of northern and a large part of Scotland. The North East, Lincolnshire, and East Anglia will meanwhile see heavy rain, with showers likely in the southwest and a few coastal areas in Wales.

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In the meantime, thanks to a burst of warm spring air. On Thursday, which marks the spring equinox, people living in the south could enjoy summer-like highs of 21C. This is estimated to be hotter than , where the mercury will reach highs of 17C, and Corfu, where the maximum temperature will be 16C.

Much of the UK will enjoy temperatures in the mid-to-high teens, according to forecasts, with only the north of expected to stay cool. meteorologist Becky Mitchell said: "Parts of the South East, across the Midlands will be the warmest spots on Wednesday and then on Thursday that warmth travels a bit further north so it's going to feel pretty warm across southern Scotland, Northern Ireland and the whole of England and Wales. There's really just northern Scotland that will keep hold of the colder weather through the middle of the week."

The pleasant weather on Thursday will come just in time for the spring equinox, which marks the start of astronomical spring. The new season, which marks a shift in the Earth's tilt on its axis as it orbits around the Sun, will begin just after 9am on March 20. It is different to meteorological spring, which began on March 1.

However, forecasters believe this warm spell is likely to be short lived, making way for a return to cold weather towards the end of March. James Madden from Exacta Weather said: "This period of more settled and sunny will then actually pave the way for another cold and wintry episode and further prospects, for something our forecasts have repeatedly maintained would occur on multiple occasions deep into spring this year, and the next wintry episode is set to strike in and around March 25 or possibly a little earlier."

But at the beginning of April, there could be a mixture of dry conditions and wet weather in the form of rain or showers, the Met Office said.

According to the long-range forecast from Saturday, March 29 to Saturday, April 12 says: "Confidence is naturally rather low, but blocked patterns are generally more favoured for the end of March and first part of April.

"This can lead to slow-moving areas of low and high pressure, and depending on their location can result in extended periods of either dry conditions or, perhaps more likely, wetter episodes in the form of rain or showers. Either way, whilst temperatures overall may be near average, given the time of year this type of regime tends to increase the chance of periods of below average temperatures at times."

Clearer skies continuing to filter further northwest throughout the night, although the far northwest probably staying mainly cloudy. Widespread frost developing away from the far south where it remains breezy.

A cold frosty start will give way to a largely sunny day for many. Breezy for some exposed coasts and more widely in the southwest.

Generally fine and settled midweek with plenty of sunshine and feeling warmer by day, although still with night-time frosts. Likely to turn more unsettled from the south during Friday.