Snow maps suggest the UK is set for a wave of snow in the coming days, with WXCharts forecasting wintry conditions to affect a swathe of the country on Thursday, February 19
Snow maps have indicated that the UK is bracing for a flurry of snow in the upcoming days that could cover 18 cities.
New maps from WXCharts predict that the weather will impact a large portion of the nation on Thursday, February 19. The frosty conditions are expected to blanket most of Wales and extend into the English Midlands, with some northern areas also affected.
Scotland, as per usual, will also experience snowfall, according to the forecast. This comes as the Met Office has issued yellow snow warnings for four UK regions on Wednesday and Thursday (February 18 and 19).
READ MORE: Met Office snow warning names 27 areas facing storm bringing 6 inches – see listREAD MORE: Study shows best way to warm home and slash energy bills
The weather alert will be effective from 4pm on Wednesday until 6am on Thursday, covering London and the south east of England, as well as the south west, the West Midlands, and Wales. Snowfall is predicted to disrupt these regions, commencing across the areas around 4pm on Wednesday and persisting until 6am on Thursday, reports the Express.
Full list of cities
The following cities are projected to be within or just outside the snow zone on February 19. This is a forecast, and may not accurately represent what actually transpires.
The anticipated snow could potentially drift slightly further than the area highlighted on the charts.
- Birmingham
- Stafford
- Nottingham
- Gloucester
- Hereford
- Worcester
- Coventry
- Peterborough
- Cambridge
- Sheffield
- Derby
- Leicester
- Bradford
- Newport
- Manchester
- Leeds
- Durham
Meteorologists consider three primary factors when predicting snow, the Met Office adds: the origin of the air, very heavy precipitation and when warm air encounters cold air. Experts further explain: “If air has come from a warmer area, or has spent a long time over mild water, then it would be harder to generate snow.
“If it’s coming from a cold region, often the north, then there’s a chance of snow being a possibility.”
Specialists point out that most moisture in clouds begins as snow or “supercooled” raindrops, though this typically melts before reaching the surface. “However, in winter, intense precipitation can keep temperatures lower closer to the ground, increasing the chance of heavy rainfall turning into snow,” the Met Office explains.
“Presenters often talk about weather fronts between warm and cold air,” it continues. “In the winter, these fronts can introduce the moisture and conditions for snow to fall. There’s often a fine line between who sees snow and who sees rain, which is one of the reasons forecasting snow can be difficult.”
