Fourteen parts of the UK could see snow this Easter weekend as the country is gripped by an Arctic blast with temperatures plunging as low as -2C. Weather maps generated today (April 3) show that northern parts of Great Britain and some areas of Northern Ireland at midday on Easter Sunday (April 5) will be gripped by icy conditions.

In Scotland, the areas where WX Charts shows snow on the same date are the Western Isles, Highlands, Argyll & Bute, Tayside, Central, Glasgow, Ayrshire & Lanark and Dumfries & Galloway. Further south, snow appears on WX Charts’ weather maps in Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. Northern Ireland may be in for a dusting too, with WX Charts showing snow in parts of Co. Antrim and Co. Tyrone.

Snow looks set to be deepest in north western parts of Scotland, with one of WX Charts’ maps showing a staggering 29cm in parts of the Highlands. Elsewhere, just 1cm or 2cm appear on the maps for the North of England.

There could be lows of -2C on higher ground in Scotland and the mercury could plummet into the single digits centigrade over the whole of the UK on Easter Sunday.

London may see 8C, Newcastle 3C and Greater Manchester 3C as well by midday on Easter Sunday. WX Charts shows 6C in Bristol, 4C in Swansea and 3C in Belfast.

While snow appears on WX Charts’ maps, it’s important to remember this is just one model and forecasting snow can be tricky in the UK as just a slight dip or rise in temperature can make the difference between rain, sleet and snow.

The Met Office‘s five day forecast suggests snow is likely on the hills on Sunday, along with rain and showers mostly in the north of the UK.

This is after Storm Dave lashes parts of the country with coastal gales and winds up to 90mph as a low comes in off the Atlantic. There are weather warnings covering large parts of the UK for travel disruption and the possibility of damage from large waves.

Met Office UK five day weather forecast

Good Friday – Tuesday, April 7

Headline: Storm Dave moves in over the Easter weekend.

Today will be cloudy and breezy. Rain and drizzle will slowly clear, but linger in the south. Some brighter spells develop in the north with sunshine and scattered showers, some of which will be heavy and wintry over higher ground. It will feel warm in the south.

Tonight sees light rain clearing from most places except the far south before returning in the north later. Elsewhere will see clear spells with northern showers, which will be wintry on the hills. Patchy frost is expected in Scotland, Northern Ireland and England.

On Saturday Storm Dave moves northwards across Northern Ireland and western Scotland, bringing cloud, rain and strong winds. Coastal gales are likely here, but it will be drier further south. It remains windy, but mild.

Sunday starts off with heavy rain, hill snow and gales, followed by showers, mainly confined to the north. Monday will be clearer, but frosty and dry. Tuesday sees cloud and patchy rain in the west, but it will be warm in the east.