After a spell of warm weather that brought the hottest March day in half a century, dramatically cooler conditions are forecast to spread across the UK over the next few days, making for a somewhat wintry-feeling Easter weekend. Temperatures across much of England and Wales climbed above 20C (68F) this week. There had been predictions of the record for the hottest March day possibly being smashed on Wednesday, but several factors, including cloud in some places, prevented it, though a high of 24C was recorded in Weybourne, Norfolk. It followed the hottest March day in 53 years, with a temperature of 24.5C at Kew Gardens in west London on Tuesday. The UK’s highest recorded March temperature is 25.6C, set in 1968 at Mepal, Cambridgeshire. With big swings across UK temperatures not unusual during spring, the Met Office said there would be “exceptional warmth” and “massive” temperature contrasts as the month came to a close. People in England and Wales made the most of sunny conditions after coronavirus rules were eased to allow groups to socialise in parks and gardens for the first time in months. In Wales, as many as four people from two households were allowed to do so from Saturday 13 March. In England, groups of six – or two households – were allowed from Monday. Outdoor sports facilities can also reopen. Scotland and Northern Ireland are due to ease restrictions in the near future. However, the Met Office said there would be a notable change in temperature over the Easter weekend, with the displacement of warm air across the south and cold spreading from the north causing a cold spell. A drop to single figures is forecast from late Sunday to early next week, when the character of the weather is likely to change, with the prospect of snow showers for many, accompanied by strong northerly winds. Mark Sidaway, a deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, confirmed that after this week’s settled, warm spell with plenty of sunshine, the weather would take a notable change in direction. He said: “Very cold Arctic air will move in from the north-west through Sunday, bringing snow showers and freezing overnight temperatures. “The snow showers will predominantly affect the north and west of the UK. The south and east will likely remain drier but still cold, with a lower chance of wintry showers.” The lowest temperatures will be felt in the north, with the greatest chance of snow most likely over higher ground in the north and west of the UK, the Met Office added.