UK weather will be taking a dire turn on Easter weekend following a taste of summer with temperatures reaching 21C. On Monday next week, maps from WXCharts switch from swathes of red to icy blue as a subzero freeze sweeps the nation. Outdoor plans for the long bank holiday weekend will be tarnished by figures reaching -2C.

After the warm and sunny interlude, Brits will need to crank the central heating back up to combat the freezing temperatures. Spreading across the entire nation, the subzero freeze will cover all four countries. On Monday, April 21, the north of England will wake up to -1C at 6am, with the highest figure above Manchester reaching 0C. The south east will see the warmest temperatures with Norfolk and Essex hovering around 3-5C.

The capital will face slightly chillier weather at 1-2C, with digits decreasing down in the south west - Somerset through to Cornwall will sit at 0C in the early hours of the morning.

The majority of Wales can expect the same with freezing temperatures engulfing the country. The top of the west coast will reach -1C with the south west of Wales seeing a slightly higher 2C.

Northern Ireland will experience the subzero freeze with 0C to -1C blanketing the country. Scotland will see the coldest temperatures of the UK with Inverness predicted to be -2C, with other regions sitting at -1C.

Weather forecaster the Met Office predicts the lead-up to the Easter weekend to be unsettled too.

During the week, mixed conditions can be expected with showers or longer spells of rain likely across many regions.

Heavier rainfall with hail and thunder, accompanied by strong winds, may also be seen across the nation heading into Good Friday.

The forecaster highlights the start of next week as being unsettled at times, with a risk of heavy rain or showers. “Later in the week settled weather is expected to become more prevalent, with more in the way of dry, sunny weather developing”, it adds.