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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Easter exodus for warmer climes under way as UK freeze continues | Easter exodus for warmer climes under way as UK freeze continues |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| The Easter exodus for warmer climes is under way for long-suffering Britons hoping to escape the record low March temperatures. An estimated 1.2 million passengers are expected to fly out from Heathrow this weekend, and 570,000 are due to leave from Gatwick. | The Easter exodus for warmer climes is under way for long-suffering Britons hoping to escape the record low March temperatures. An estimated 1.2 million passengers are expected to fly out from Heathrow this weekend, and 570,000 are due to leave from Gatwick. |
| The most popular destinations include Spain, Tunisia, Egypt and Florida – but southern European city breaks and ski trips are also in demand. Gatwick expects to break previous Easter records with 1.6 million passengers over the next two weeks. | The most popular destinations include Spain, Tunisia, Egypt and Florida – but southern European city breaks and ski trips are also in demand. Gatwick expects to break previous Easter records with 1.6 million passengers over the next two weeks. |
| Those who remain can expect below-average temperatures over the weekend, with the gauge falling below freezing in many parts of the country. | Those who remain can expect below-average temperatures over the weekend, with the gauge falling below freezing in many parts of the country. |
| Some tourist attractions have been affected by the weather. Belfast Zoo is closed for the Easter weekend after two feet of snow caused damage to its infrastructure during seven days of bad weather. | Some tourist attractions have been affected by the weather. Belfast Zoo is closed for the Easter weekend after two feet of snow caused damage to its infrastructure during seven days of bad weather. |
| "Our keepers have been working against the elements to care for our animals," said zoo manager Mark Challis. "This is especially disappointing as we have been working hard towards our busy Easter season." | "Our keepers have been working against the elements to care for our animals," said zoo manager Mark Challis. "This is especially disappointing as we have been working hard towards our busy Easter season." |
| This year has seen the coldest March since 1962 and the fourth coldest since records began, the Met Office confirmed this week. The record lowest Easter temperature of -9.8C was set at Lagganlia, Inverness, on Easter Monday 1986. Temperatures hit -8.8C early on Thursday in Aonach Mor, Inverness, and -6.7C at Great Dun Fell, Cumbria. | This year has seen the coldest March since 1962 and the fourth coldest since records began, the Met Office confirmed this week. The record lowest Easter temperature of -9.8C was set at Lagganlia, Inverness, on Easter Monday 1986. Temperatures hit -8.8C early on Thursday in Aonach Mor, Inverness, and -6.7C at Great Dun Fell, Cumbria. |
| Government cold weather health warnings have been extended until Easter Monday – the first time the system has been used in April. | Government cold weather health warnings have been extended until Easter Monday – the first time the system has been used in April. |
| Statistics from the Met Office show that from 1 to 26 March the UK average temperature was 2.5C, three degrees below the long-term average. This made it the joint fourth coldest March in the UK since records began in 1910. | Statistics from the Met Office show that from 1 to 26 March the UK average temperature was 2.5C, three degrees below the long-term average. This made it the joint fourth coldest March in the UK since records began in 1910. |
| But there is some good news: the weather is expected to remain dry across the country, with sunny spells. Easter Day should see more sunshine, particularly in the east and in Scotland, which has had heavy snow in recent weeks. | But there is some good news: the weather is expected to remain dry across the country, with sunny spells. Easter Day should see more sunshine, particularly in the east and in Scotland, which has had heavy snow in recent weeks. |
| Parts of the UK may see a white Easter with light but wintry showers forecast for eastern areas, although these are likely to be isolated. | Parts of the UK may see a white Easter with light but wintry showers forecast for eastern areas, although these are likely to be isolated. |
| Monday looks like having the best of the Easter weather, and may look spring-like with sunshine across most of the country, but temperatures will remain cold. | Monday looks like having the best of the Easter weather, and may look spring-like with sunshine across most of the country, but temperatures will remain cold. |
| Met Office forecaster Sarah Holland said the sunshine would raise temperatures to five and six degrees in some places, though it is likely to feel significantly cooler. | Met Office forecaster Sarah Holland said the sunshine would raise temperatures to five and six degrees in some places, though it is likely to feel significantly cooler. |
| "March is usually a month of contrasts, but the weather will be more settled than we've seen it recently. Many people will see brighter spells than we've had for a while, but because of the winds it will feel a lot colder than it actually is." | "March is usually a month of contrasts, but the weather will be more settled than we've seen it recently. Many people will see brighter spells than we've had for a while, but because of the winds it will feel a lot colder than it actually is." |
| This year comes two years after the UK's hottest Easter on record, with temperatures reaching 27.8 degrees in some parts of the south, but Easter last year saw heavy rain. | This year comes two years after the UK's hottest Easter on record, with temperatures reaching 27.8 degrees in some parts of the south, but Easter last year saw heavy rain. |
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