Britain will be hit by four days of snow and sub-zero temperatures in the first few days of December, new forecast maps show, as a prolonged cold spell descends on the nation
Four days of snow are coming to the UK soon, according to new forecasts.
Weather maps from WXcharts show flakes falling on December 2, 4, 6 and later on the 13th day of the month as temperatures slide into the minus figures. It follows a recent colder turn in the weather that saw temperatures fail to get above freezing during the day in some northern areas on Wednesday. While this weekend looks set for a return to milder conditions – with the mercury forecast to rise to 13C in a few regions on Sunday – a prolonged cold spell with wintry showers now appears to be on the cards at the beginning of December.
Flakes will fall in multiple parts of the UK and not just areas in the far north, with significant accumulations forecast on December 6 in Cumbria and parts of Lincolnshire. This will then be followed by snow on Friday 13 December in North Norfolk, central Wales and some isolated areas around the Pennines, as well as across the Scottish Highlands.
In a recent forecast, James Madden from Exacta Weather said: “The wintry weather during this week will be confined to higher ground in Scotland, northern England, and Wales between today and Thursday/Friday, and some overnight and non-significant wintry weather or sleet could also be recorded once again across higher elevations or a little lower during the evenings and early hours around midweek in some southern regions as an area of low pressure keeps things unsettled and windy in some of these parts during this period. The sunny spells, periods of gloom, rain or heavy rain, and further periods of moderate to strong winds at times will continue to grace our shores throughout most of the week and prior to the next wintry blast and increasing risk for snow or widespread snow once again in and around early December.”
On days when the temperature falls below freezing, households on eligible benefits may be entitled to Cold Weather Payments from the Department for Work and Pensions. The energy support scheme provides cash payments of £25 to people living in England and Wales when it is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below for seven consecutive days. If the cold snap lasts longer, you get more payments. To be eligible for the payments, households will need to claim one of several DWP benefits, including Pension Credit, Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, or Universal Credit, and meet some additional criteria.
