Residents in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, will face a sharp drop in temperatures and wind gusts of up to 39mph this week as a cold snap replaces the recent mild weather. The Met Office predicts that daytime highs will fall from 15C on Tuesday to just 8C by Thursday, 26 March 2026.
The transition begins on Tuesday, 24 March 2026, as wind speeds increase to 37mph and heavy rain arrives late in the evening. On Wednesday, 25 March 2026, temperatures will peak at 9C while wind gusts reach 39mph, making it feel like -1C overnight. Light showers are also likely throughout the day as the colder air moves in from the north-west.
Thursday is forecast to be the coldest day of the period, with a maximum temperature of 8C and a wind chill that will make it feel like -3C. Winds will begin to drop to 28mph, and the chance of rain will decrease to 20 per cent. By Friday, 27 March 2026, temperatures will slowly recover to 10C with lighter winds, although some light rain is still expected.
Met Office Chief Forecaster Steve Willington said this shift to unsettled weather is entirely typical for the time of year. He noted that the move to a cooler north-westerly flow often brings drops in temperature and brisk winds during late March. This pattern follows a settled period where the country saw its warmest day of the year so far.
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