New weather maps have captured two incoming freezing rain systems, which look set to descend as the UK experiences what could be the most significant snow of January
Freezing rain is set to descend across parts of the UK in a matter of days, new weather maps have shown, as the country faces a late January Arctic blast.
The country had appeared to be returning to normal temperatures for the time of year over the last two weeks, with the mercury sticking in the high single figures in England, Scotland and Wales. The rally, according to maps from WXCharts, could proved short-lived as temperatures look set to tumble back down into the 1C to 2C range, and even into minus figures for some areas.
Alongside those temperatures will come freezing rain and widespread snow, the maps suggest, as the forecast starts to intensify again by mid next week.
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According to the latest maps, a snowy system will start developing over much of the UK come next Wednesday, January 27, moving in from the west over Wales and creeping eastwards over England before eventually swallowing a massive portion of the country stretching from London to Inverness.
The 559-mile Arctic blast is set to create flurries powerful enough to accumulate up to two inches of snowfall widely, with some areas experiencing freezing rain as temperatures range from 2C to as low as -4C in Scotland.
Two distinct freezing rain showers will develop in England, both of which will take shape over high ground in two of the home nation’s most famous national parks. The first will descend over the length of the Peak District National Park at around 6am, spanning a large portion of the range.
The system will gradually travel north, eventually pouring out another round of freezing droplets over the North Pennines National Landscape by midday.
The maps show those two spells of freezing rain will be the only two on the day, which looks set to be largely dominated by snow – although the Met Office has said rain is more likely during the period. The agency’s long-range forecast covering January 26 to February 4 states that the temperatures will turn “somewhat colder”, raising the risk of snow while rainy conditions dominate.
The forecast states: “Weather systems moving in from the Atlantic will continue to attempt to push in from the west, but tending to stall in the vicinity of the UK as they encounter high pressure to the north and northeast.
“As a result, further spells of rain or showers are likely at times. These may be heavy and persistent, especially in the south and west, with the best of any drier interludes in the far north and northeast. Whilst mild conditions are expected to encroach into the south and southwest at times, it is likely to turn somewhat colder through this period, bringing the risk of some snow, most likely across hills in Scotland and northern England, but perhaps extending to other areas with time.”
