Snow has been forecast for parts of the North East next week and is set to hit the area from as early as Wednesday (April 3). 

According to forecasters WX Charts, snow will start to fall on April 3 and continue into April 4 from Northumberland right down towards North Yorkshire, including County Durham, Darlington and Teesside. 

Some areas of the North East and North Yorkshire will experience snowfalls of up to 5cm per hour from next Wednesday to the early hours of Thursday morning, the forecaster predicts.

The Northern Echo: The weather map showing snow in the North EastThe weather map showing snow in the North East (Image: WX CHARTS)

WX Charts works by plotting different weather events across the UK, including rain, lightning, storms, heatwaves, and temperatures across the next two weeks.

Despite WX Charts predicting a flurry of snow at the start of April, the Met Office has generally described it as "unsettled conditions" and hasn't gone into much more detail. 

Take a look at the WX Charts for yourself here.

In the long-term forecast, which is from April 2-11, the Met Office say: "Next week begins with some uncertainty, but it looks likely that we will see a return towards more widely unsettled conditions as another area of low pressure pushes across the UK with changeable weather likely largely dominating throughout this period.


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"Most areas look likely to see further showers and some longer spells of rain at times, although interspersed with some drier spells in between. It looks likely that a north-south split will be set up across the UK.

"The wettest weather will tend to favour the south whilst northern parts remain a bit drier on average. In association with this split in general temperatures will be close to average, but it will be occasionally cooler in the north, and milder in the south."

Here is the weather forecast for the Easter weekend:

This Evening and Tonight: Showery rain will continue northwards, with some heavier showers perhaps bearing hail and thunder. Breezy at first, and while remaining gusty near showers, winds will ease generally later, giving locally prolonged showers. Grass frost is possible given lasting clearer intervals. Minimum temperature 1 °C.

Friday: Showery at first, perhaps giving way to a fine spell during the morning. While further sunny spells are expected, scattered heavy showers should develop into the afternoon. Temperatures near normal. Maximum temperature 13 °C.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday: Probably more in the way of fine, warm weather developing over the weekend. Some chilly starts still, however, and perhaps colder overall with an onshore breeze on Monday.