Brits are set for a bitterly cold weekend with a freezing -6C Arctic weather blast set to hit our shores over the coming days.
It has been a wet and windy midweek for many in a mild spell due to rain clouds moving in from the Atlantic but people will need to have their thick coats at the ready as temperatures are about to plummet. Cold air is moving down from the Arctic over Iceland and when it meets the rain clouds over the UK it will lead to flurries of snow.
It means that north west England and parts of Wales, as well as Northern Ireland and southern Scotland could receive up to 10 centimetres on Friday and Saturday. An area of central and northern Scotland is also likely to see some snow up to five centimetres.
Maps from WXCharts show the snow moving in on Friday with most of the snow landing in Wales that could see five centimetres in the north while there could also be a couple of centimetres in the north west of England including Manchester. By Friday night and into Saturday, there will be more widespread snow across northern England including around five centimetres in the Newcastle area.
The snow will also be widespread across Birmingham and the rest of the Midlands, while maps also show a band of snow in the south east of the country. In Scotland there is set to be a few centimetres of snow across central and western areas.
Met Office forecaster Annie Shuttleworth said: “It will turn colder and more unsettled through Thursday and then on Friday a low pressure system will likely develop to the south and the west of the UK. This could bring a persistent spell of wet weather to areas of the south west but also some snow.
“Over high ground of Wales and northern England as well as parts of Northern Ireland potentially and as far north as northern Scotland but there is some uncertainty about how far north this wet weather will push. But for many of us it is going to be a cold and fairly cloudy day with the risk of some outbreaks of rain and sleety snow.
“Let’s take a closer look at where is most likely to see some snow through the course of Friday. So the green areas as you can see are most likely to see some snow, parts of Northern Ireland, Wales, parts of north west England as well as southern Scotland are most likely to see up to 10 centimetres falling above 250 to 300 metres, so that is a key piece of information as the snow is only really likely over the high ground.
“Low levels could see a couple of centimetres but there is quite a low risk of anything settling. Across the far north of Scotland we could also see up to five centimetres if that band of rain, sleet and snow does push further north and that would also be above the high ground about 300 metres.”
The Met Office forecast for Friday states: “A frosty start in places with any patchy fog clearing quickly. Rain and hill snow spreading eastwards, turning heavy at times. Scattered showers following behind. Often windy, and feeling cold.”
And it adds for the weekend: “Remaining unsettled over the weekend with showers at times, turning wintry over higher ground, but brighter spells possible. Winds easing with overnight frosts. Turning wetter and windier on Monday.”
