“Nasty” gales and washouts are forecast to spoil Easter as Scotland’s balmy 19C (66F) start to spring is blown away just as the holiday weekend begins.
Spring officially started on yesterday’s equinox with the Met Office forecasting dry conditions with sunny spells up to a “very pleasant” 15C (59F) in Scotland until Wednesday.
But two weeks of mainly dry skies seeing busy parks and 18.7C in Braemar, Aberdeenshire on Thursday will be replaced by rain and windy spells from Maundy Thursday, the day many schools break up for Easter.
“It’s sod’s law,” said British Weather Services forecaster Jim Dale.
“The fine, dry spell will break down to rain for all across Easter.”
The Met Office said Thursday would see rain and winds up to gale-force in Scotland, with the west bearing the brunt but the east also affected.
Government forecasters said spells of rain and gustier winds are due for all parts from Good Friday with Easter Sunday threatened by more severe winds, especially in the west.
Forecaster Brian Gaze of The Weather Outlook said: “Forecast models show a potentially nasty and very unsettled Easter Sunday.”
The Met Office said 11-13C Easter highs would feel colder in the wind and rain.
Met Office forecaster Steven Keates added: “This dry spell can feel very pleasant in the sunshine. The start of the week could see the low teens and up to 15C in eastern Scotland.
“But it changes on Thursday, with the Easter weekend seeing rain for all at times, with stronger winds.
“Thursday will see low pressure bring rain mainly for the west and north of the UK, with coasts there seeing winds close to gale-force.
“The Easter weekend will see a mix of rain and drier interludes, with a risk of quite windy conditions around Easter Sunday, especially in the west. “Highs of 11-13C will feel cooler in potentially brisk winds and rain,” he said.