Surprise snow is on the cards at the start of May as weather forecasting maps reveal wintry conditions could soon impact 26 counties in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Weather maps suggest snow could fall in as many as 26 counties across the UK at the start of May – despite temperatures possibly hitting 26C this week.
The ECMWF weather model shows flurries forming in northern parts of Scotland on May 6 before slowing moving southward, impacting large parts of Scotland as well as some areas in England and Northern Ireland.
By 6pm on May 6, the maps show heavy snow coming down over mountains in Scotland, with some flurries also impacting low-lying areas in the centre of the country. By midnight, some snow could fall in western parts of Northern Ireland too.
READ MORE: UK weather maps reveal 53 areas face scorcher as Met Office forecasts 26C – listREAD MORE: UK weather maps show May snow in 27 cities as far south as London – full list
The maps show snow falling in southern Scotland at around 6am on May 7. And by midday, some purple patches, indicating where snow will be falling, are shown in the far north of England.
As much as 15cm of snow could settle over high ground in the north-east of Scotland, the data suggests. Snow will struggle to accumulate in low-lying areas.
The ECMWF model suggests as many as 26 counties in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland could see some snow over the two days. They are as follows…
UK counties facing snow in May
Scotland
- Sutherland
- Caithness
- Ross-shire and Cromartyshire
- Inverness-shire
- Nainshire
- Morayshire
- Banffshire
- Aberdeenshire
- Kincardineshire
- Angus
- Perthshire
- Fife
- Kinross-shire
- Clackmannanshire
- West Lothian
- Midlothian
- East Lothian
- Peeblesshire
- Berwickshire
- Selkirkshire
- Roxburghshire
England
- Northumberland
- Cumbria
- County Durham
Northern Ireland
- County Tyrone
- County Londonderry
It comes as the Met Office has said temperatures could reach 26C in parts of southern England on Friday – despite there also being a risk of “thundery bursts” in places.
The Met Office said: “Later Thursday into Friday, conditions become more unsettled. Rain and showers are expected to spread from the south and west, with the potential for some heavy and thundery bursts. Where sunshine persists ahead of this, it will feel warm and humid, especially in southern and central parts of England.”
More “changeable” conditions are on the cards as we head into the Bank Holiday weekend. Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree said: “By Friday, conditions are expected to become more unsettled, with rain and showers spreading in from the southwest, some of which could be heavy and possibly thundery.
“Ahead of this, it will feel warm and humid in parts of England on Friday, Into the Bank Holiday weekend, the weather looks more changeable, with showers at times – particularly in the north – but also some sunnier intervals.”
