The best maps the BBC had IMO were the ones they had from the mid-80s up until the spring of 2005, when they changed to the ones they used up until early February this year. The map of the British Isles was just the right size IMO and there was no tilt on it at all.

The one way to make the UK bigger and fill in the space was to put the Shetland Islands and the Channel Islands in little squares at the corners. It worked well in the symbols era but don't think it would sit that well with today's CGI set up. The other method is the fly-around system and we all know how that went down.
  That's the drawback of the UK being a long and elongated thing with little islands at the far top and bottom ends. Although, when TV screens were more square back in the CRT days, the map of the UK effectively "looked" bigger. Now it looks rather lost and small on widescreen tellies with a lot of dead space on both sides.

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Met office

UK Outlook for Sunday 25 Mar 2018 to Tuesday 3 Apr 2018:

There will be sunshine and showers for most on Sunday, and some of these could be heavy and slow-moving with a risk of hail and thunder. Through the early part of next week the weather is likely to become changeable once again, with showers and rain at times, interspersed by drier and brighter interludes. Temperatures will be near average or rather cold during the day, with a risk of overnight frosts. The Easter weekend is still too far away to be confident with any details. The most likely scenario currently is a spell of colder than average weather, with increased likelihood of overnight frosts, and a greater than normal chance of snow, especially in the north.

UK Outlook for Tuesday 3 Apr 2018 to Tuesday 17 Apr 2018:

There is significant uncertainty in the forecast detail during this period, but it does look as though slow moving weather systems will affect the UK. There will most probably be a balance between Atlantic frontal systems affecting the south and west at times, with perhaps colder and perhaps drier conditions in the north. However, further snow is possible at times, more especially in the colder north. It will be windy in places with below average temperatures; some overnight frosts are likely during early April. Towards the middle of the month confidence becomes very low, but some warmer days are expected and it may become drier generally.

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast 

Easter Weather 2018: Met Office forecast BARRAGE of snow could hit on Bank Holiday weekend

https://www.express.co.uk/news/weather/934597/Easter-Weather-2018-Met-Office-forecast-snow-UK-Bank-Holiday-weekend-BBC-weather-latest 

Next week

Becoming windier
Spells of wet weather
Some sunnier days
Mild overall - Cooler for Easter?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/43478517 

Met office

UK Outlook for Monday 26 Mar 2018 to Wednesday 4 Apr 2018:

There will be sunshine and showers on Monday, though rain is likely to spread in from the west later and through into Tuesday. Sunshine and showers following, these falling as snow over the high ground in the north. For the rest of this period, the weather will remain changeable, with showers and rain at times, interspersed by drier and brighter interludes. Snow may also occur at times, more especially in the north. Temperatures are likely to be rather cold, with a risk of overnight frosts. The Easter weekend is too far away to be confident with any details. The most likely scenario currently is a spell of colder than average weather, with increased likelihood of overnight frosts, and a greater than normal chance of snow showers, especially in the north.

UK Outlook for Thursday 5 Apr 2018 to Thursday 19 Apr 2018:

Colder than average conditions are likely to prevail overall; often showery with fairly light winds, and a continued chance of overnight frosts. Showers could be heavy with hail and thunder at times, but there are also likely to be good spells of sunshine in-between. Showers or longer spells of rain could fall as snow at times, mainly over higher ground and in the north. Any milder, wetter and windier spells are likely to be relatively short lived. Towards the middle of the month, it is possible that we could start to see some warmer temperatures, less cold nights, and it may become drier generally.

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast 

Will cold conditions return?

"Met Office long-range forecasting expert Jeff Knight said: “It is too early to say exactly what weather we will get at Easter, but long-range forecasts show a greater than usual chance of cold spells over Easter and into April. Northerly or easterly winds will need to compete with the increasingly strong spring sunshine and longer days, however. So, it is unlikely that any cold spells will be as severe as those recently. If the cold does return, snow is unlikely to be as disruptive as recent events in southern Britain.”

https://blog.metoffice.gov.uk/2018/03/21/will-cold-conditions-return/

 

The flat map is fine, IMO it's the cloud cover and animations that need sorting out. Under the previous system cloud was shown as a shadow over the land and ppn was animated to make it stand out. Compare:

I would say under the old system it's pretty easy to see where the snowfall is, where the cloud is, and where is clear. Also the old system had animations for snowfall and rainfall that made it even more obvious than these images suggest.

Indeed and the blue denoted frost and cloud was a dark shadow - where as now they use the same colour graphics for frost, snow, fog and cloud!!

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10-day trend

Into Easter weekend

Winds from the north

Colder than average

Wintry showers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNGRYkVpWeM

Some changes are to be made to the met office warning system

"
What’s new then?

Two additional types of extreme weather are being added to the current list of rain, snow, wind, fog, and ice.

These are thunderstorms, and lightning.

These can also be combined if more than one could be a potential risk to the public.

Hot weather will still be treated as a public health warning rather than a weather issue.
What about timings?

The Met Office is also planning to change how far ahead it issues warnings.

Currently they only issue alerts five days in advance.

This is going to be extended to a full week, so warnings may be put out a week before the anticipated bad weather."

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/met-office-changing-weather-warning-14441857?ref=BNTMedia&utm_medium=twitter 

I'd agree that lightning is a hazard worth warning about, but not sure that there needs to be two separate categories of thunderstorm and lightning warnings. Lightning warnings should be part of the general thunderstorm warning, along with large hail, heavy rainfall and strong winds, where applicable.

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Easter weather WARNING: Heavy snow forecast for Easter weekend as April 2018 FREEZES OVER

BRITAIN is on fresh alert for another ‘big cold spell’ with a bitter Easter weekend set to give way to a month-long April freeze.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/weather/935124/Easter-weather-forecast-snow-UK-April-2018-cold-long-range-forecast-Met-Office 

Thomasszzzz Schhhityaknickerboker on bbc London 4.30pm:

“Latest computer output today says a northerly icy outbreak for the U.K., after another mini beast before Easter”

Exact timing Tbc

Next 10 days

Weekend showers
Mild start to next week
Cooler by Easter

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/43494488 

Meanwhile in NYC:

https://www.earthcam.com/cams/newyork/timessquare/?cam=tstwo_hd 

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Met office

UK Outlook for Tuesday 27 Mar 2018 to Thursday 5 Apr 2018:

Rain is likely for southern and central areas on Tuesday, with sunny spells and showers in the north. These showers will become more widespread for Wednesday, with snow flurries for northern hills. For the rest of this period, the weather will remain changeable, with showers and rain at times, interspersed by drier and brighter interludes. Snow may also occur at times, more especially in the north. Temperatures are likely to be rather cold, with an increasing risk of overnight frosts mainly away from the south. The Easter weekend is too far away to be confident with any details. The most likely scenario currently is a spell of colder than average weather, with increased likelihood of overnight frosts, and a greater than normal chance of snow showers, especially in the north.

UK Outlook for Friday 6 Apr 2018 to Friday 20 Apr 2018:

Colder than average conditions are likely to prevail overall in April. It will often be showery, with fairly light winds, and a continued chance of overnight frosts. The showers could be heavy with hail and thunder at times, but there are also likely to be good spells of sunshine in-between. Showers or longer spells of rain could occasionally fall as snow, mainly over higher ground and in the north. Any milder, wetter and windier spells are likely to be relatively short lived. Towards the middle of the month, it is possible that we could start to see some warmer temperatures, less cold nights, and it may become drier generally.

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast 

Easter weather SNOW: UK set for HEAVIEST Easter snowfall EVER as WORST freeze of year hits

BRITAIN is on alert for what could be the heaviest Easter snowfall EVER as the nation braces for the worst Arctic whiteout of the year so far.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/weather/935715/Easter-weather-snow-UK-forecast-2018-heavy-snow-worst-ever-April

Easter weekend

Cooler

Sunny spells

Wintry showers mainly Wales, Midlands north not quite as cold or showery in the south

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/43509038

Sigh....
Not to much hype from the Express🙄
I think the above comment will sum up the Easter weekend much better...

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Met office

UK Outlook for Wednesday 28 Mar 2018 to Friday 6 Apr 2018:

Outbreaks of rain for many on Wednesday, but cold in the north with snow falling on the hills, and perhaps to lower levels. Thursday may be cold for all parts, with a few wintry showers possible. For the Easter weekend, it's still too early to forecast in much detail, but it looks to be unsettled with a mix of sunny spells and showers. It will be cold, and the showers could be a mix of rain sleet or snow, with snow most likely in the north. More persistent rain may move north at times, with a risk of this turning to snow. Further ahead, the weather may become a little more settled, with perhaps brief interludes of wintry showers, and it will be rather cold, with frost at night.

UK Outlook for Saturday 7 Apr 2018 to Saturday 21 Apr 2018:

Colder than average conditions are likely to prevail overall through the middle part of April. It will often be showery, with fairly light winds, and a risk of overnight frosts. The showers could be heavy, but there are also likely to be good spells of sunshine in-between. There could occasionally be some snowfall, but this will mainly be over higher ground and in the north. Any milder, wetter and windier spells are likely to be relatively short lived. Towards the end of the month, it is possible that we could start to see some warmer weather, with less cold nights, and it may become drier generally.

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast 

Heading to Easter

Colder
Threat of snow

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/43523046