FREAKEND BREAK; Coldest Easter holidays on record ..AND WE'LL BE EVEN CHILLIER THAN ARCTIC GREENLAND.

Byline: EUAN STRETCH euan.stretch@mirror.co.uk

BRITAIN is set to shiver through its coldest Easter weekend on record, forecasters warned yesterday.

Clocks go forward an hour early on Sunday, marking the start of British Summer Time, but it will be colder than Greenland with temperatures plunging to a bone-chilling -10C in some parts.

Channel 4 forecaster Liam Dutton said: "BST starts early on Sunday but the weather hasn't noticed. Recent cold is remarkable and even the weathermen are sick of it."

This month is set to be the coldest March since 1962 with average temperatures of just 2.5C. It is also in the top 20 gloomiest since 1910 with only 59 hours of sunshine.

This weekend is at least expected to be brighter, but most of us will still be lucky to see 3C during the daytime.

Even Qaqortoq, Greenland, can expect 4C during the day and -1C at night.

Met Office forecaster Dave Britton said yesterday: "Easter will be chilly with some good sunny spells but bitterly cold easterly winds at first.

"There will be the odd snow shower in the East and possible sleet in the far south-west. Night colds see -10C locally in northern England and Scotland. There's little change next week."

The record lowest Easter temperature was -9.8C, set on March 31, 1986, at Lagganlia, Inverness-shire. The mercury hit -8.8C early yesterday in nearby Aonach Mor, and -6.7C at Great Dun Fell, in Cumbria.

Further south at Becketts Farm, in Whythall, Birmingham, even lambs were given woolly jumpers to stay warm.

Tourist attraction Snowdon Mountain Railway, in North Wales, has been forced to shut down for Easter after being hit by 30ft snowdrifts.

Boss Alan Kendall said: "It's the worst weather I've experienced in the 11 years I've been here."

And about 1,200 homes in western Scotland had no power for a sixth day after a problem with mobile generators.

British Summer Time starts early on Sunday but the weather hasn't noticed and even weathermen are sick of it FORECASTER LIAM DUTTON

CAPTION(S):

BLEAT OUTLOOK J Lambs in their knitted jumpers

FREEZY RIDER J Cyclist at Reeth, Yorkshire Dales

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Publication:	The Mirror (London, England)
Geographic Code:	1GREE
Date:	Mar 29, 2013
Words:	361
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