The UK is braced for snow across 39 regions, including Yorkshire and Lancashire, this week as wintry weather sweeps in from the North Atlantic, forecasters warn
Striking weather maps show large swathes of the country are set to face blizzards this week.
Temperatures are expected to plunge to -9C with snow to fall as far south as Berkshire and Hampshire. Data from forecasters at Metdesk show a band of low pressure will move in from the North Atlantic and sweep southwards. The worst of the weather will be on both Saturday and Sunday, but the cold snap started last night.
The Met Office website says: “From Wednesday, it will feel markedly colder across all parts, with rain, sleet and hail showers potentially quite widely, and snow likely over higher ground in the north. Elsewhere, it will be a blustery day and although there is some sunshine on offer, it will feel cold thanks to the wind chill.
“Temperatures will fall overnight — potentially to -5°C in rural Scotland — with a widespread frost overnight likely for most, and ice at first in the north on Thursday morning.”
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The picture will be a huge contrast to the weather last week, during which temperatures exceeded 20C in west Wales. Substantial portions of the country enjoyed large spells of sunshine but low pressure will now dominate until the end of the month.
And so weather charts from WXCharts.com, which works using Metdesk data, display white patches across much of Britain, encompassing northern Scotland, the North West of England, the Midlands, Wales and Southern England. Snow will persist in numerous locations, with charts turning purple to signal settled snow, reports the Express.
By Saturday, scattered snow showers will continue in Scotland, Wales, Hampshire and Berkshire. A Met Office forecast for Thursday stated: “Showers, some wintry, will continue overnight, especially in the far north, and across Wales, central and later southern parts of England. Otherwise clear periods will develop and the strong and gusty northwesterly wind will ease. Turning frosty with icy patches.”
They added for Thursday to Sunday: “Thursday will start mostly fine with some sunshine. It will gradually turn cloudy, wet and breezy in the north. Meanwhile, much of England and Wales will remain dry and bright.
“Rain moves southeastwards on Thursday night, giving wet weather in the south on Friday. Turning clearer, colder and showery from the northwest, ahead of wet and windy weather on Sunday.”
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Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Steven Keates said: “After a spell of mild and brighter weather, the UK will turn increasingly unsettled in the coming days. A series of weather fronts will bring periods of rain, strong winds and much colder air by midweek. Wednesday could be quite a shock to the system.
“Temperatures will range from 6°C to 10°C, but it will feel closer to low single figures for many areas in the wind. Wintry showers are likely, especially over higher ground in the north, and a widespread frost – with icy patches for some – is possible on Wednesday night. It should be a little milder again by the end of the week, with many areas seeing another spell of rain on Friday.”
Full list of 39 areas to see snow
Scotland
Shetland
Orkney
Sutherland
Caithness
Ross-shire
Cromartyshire
Inverness-shire
Nairnshire
Morayshire
Banffshire
Aberdeenshire
Kincardineshire
Angus
Perthshire
Argyllshire
Wales
Anglesey
Caernarfonshire
Merionethshire
Denbighshire Flintshire
Montgomeryshire
Radnorshire
Cardiganshire
Brecknockshire
Pembrokeshire
Carmarthenshire
Northern Ireland
Antrim
Armagh
County Down
England
Northumberland
Durham
Cumberland
Westmorland
Lancashire
Yorkshire
Cheshire
Lincolnshire
Berkshire
Hampshire
