Britain set for balmy temperatures

London -  Britain will bask in balmy temperatures this week once the latest cold snap has passed, the Met office here said.

On Wednesday and Thursday it could soon feel more like spring than winter, with temperatures hitting a very pleasant 17 degrees Celsius, weather officials said.

The mercury dropped to minus 7 degrees Celcius Sunday and snow fell in parts of the north, the midlands, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

One forecaster said: “It will be a frosty start Monday but will become milder by Wednesday, although with occasional rain."

“Thursday will be drier, with brighter conditions across the south and east where it will be very mild. The north and west will be cloudy with occasional rain."

“Brighter conditions will follow the rain early Friday, which will be generally windy. By Saturday, temperatures will return nearer to normal for the time of year,” the mirror.co.uk quoted the  official as saying.

Britain and other European countries have been under the spell of snow, ice and freezing temperatures this winter, one of the harshest winters in decades. Dozens of people have died  across the region due to the severe cold.