Fresh weather maps suggest wintry conditions are poised to sweep in soon, with snow falling across as many as 17 counties across the UK
Britain could be bracing for a late-season blast of snow in a matter of days.
Fresh weather maps suggest wintry conditions are poised to sweep in from May 3, with flakes first falling around midday before spreading across as many as 17 counties by the night of May 7.
The latest charts from WXCharts, based on MetDesk data, paint a chilly picture – with parts of Scotland firmly in the firing line.
By midnight on May 4, the flurries are expected to intensify, with the Highlands and Argyll and Bute facing thicker, more persistent bursts of snow. Temperatures are also set to take a sharp dive, with forecasts indicating lows of -3C as the cold snap tightens its grip.
Maps generated on April 25 show the mercury tumbling as freezing conditions linger.
While the Met Office’s long-range outlook for April 29 to May 8 makes no mention of snow, it does warn that conditions could turn increasingly unsettled, with showers and longer spells of rain likely to dominate at times.
It reads: “High pressure is likely to lie close to the UK at the start of this period.
“Most places will be dry with sunny spells and light winds, although there could be some overnight mist and fog. Into the first week of May, conditions will probably become more changeable with low pressure systems becoming more likely.
“This means an increasing chance of showers or longer spells of rain, with a risk of strong winds at times. Temperatures are likely to be close to or slightly above normal.”
The Met Office previously told how the UK’s snow forecasts are more complex than in continental Europe due to rapidly-changing conditions.
“Small variations in temperature or wind direction can mean the difference between rain, sleet or snow,” its website said. “Meteorologists use high-resolution models to predict precipitation type, but these models can struggle with marginal situations where temperatures hover around freezing.
“Forecasters also consider factors such as precipitation intensity. Heavy bursts of precipitation can cool the air near the surface, increasing the chance of snow. Conversely, lighter precipitation may melt before reaching the ground. This fine balance makes snow forecasting one of the most uncertain aspects of UK weather prediction.”
List of counties set to welcome snow
- Perth and Kinross
- Highlands
- Argyll & Bute
- Angus
- Dundee city
- Stirling
- Clackmannanshire
- Falkirk
- West Lothian
- Aberdeenshire
- Fife
- North Lanarkshire
- South Lanarkshire
- East Ayrshire
- North Ayrshire
- South Ayrshire
- Dumfries and Galloway
