A 400-mile ‘wall of snow’ is set to sweep across the nation as temperatures dive once again, according to weather forecast maps, with ‘atmospheric disturbances’ blamed for the cold snap
Britain is set to be hit by yet another ‘wall of snow’, forecast maps show, with a 400-mile stretch of the country tipped to see flakes fall.
Snow is forecast in multiple parts of the UK today before clearing over the next 24 hours as temperatures rise towards the weekend – but this respite won’t last for long.
Early WXCharts weather models for next Wednesday show a dark purple area, meaning snow, extending from Lancaster up to Ullapool in Scotland. The wintry spell is forecast to begin on February 11, reaching its peak early the following day. Lincolnshire and East Anglia will meanwhile see rain, which will be torrential at times.
James Madden from Exacta Weather said in a forecast last night: “From on and around 12–15 February or possibly several days earlier, we will see the cold and enhanced cold and snow prospects returning and heightening across large parts of the north, and also for the ‘south’ of the country this time around – due to major atmospheric disturbances and the induced blocking patterns and cold winds that are likely to arise across our shores from these developments.”
The Met Office’s long-range forecast for Monday 9 February to Wednesday 18 February reads: “Cyclonic patterns are expected to dominate across the UK during mid-February. Frontal systems over the Atlantic are likely to approach the UK at times, tending to become slow moving as they encounter a blocking area of high pressure to the northeast.
“This will result in showers or longer spells of rain spreading across the UK, these heavy at times. Rainfall amounts will probably be highest in parts of the west, including across areas already sensitive to flooding. As these bands of rain spread northwards, snow is possible across northern England and Scotland, mainly over high ground. Strong winds could develop in places, especially coasts. Temperatures will probably be close to normal overall, with any cold conditions more likely in the north.”
Today, rain is expected to progress north throughout the day, with some snow over north Wales, some parts of northern England and higher ground in Scotland.
Maximum temperatures of 8C are forecast in London and Cardiff, 6C in Belfast, and 5C in Manchester and Edinburgh.
UK weather
Thursday:
Rain moves northwards through the day, turning heavy in places and again, possible snow across north Wales, the Pennines and Scottish mountains. Winds staying strong in the north. Average temperatures.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
Wintry hazards continuing for the northern half of the UK, with outbreaks of rain in the south. Some drier spells on Saturday, but remaining mostly cloudy into the weekend.
