Brits are braced for a fresh Arctic blast arriving on Thursday as temperatures plummet to -5C, with snow predicted to cover 13 cities across the UK, following the recent havoc caused by storms Eowyn and Herminia.
A new low pressure system is wheeling in from the Atlantic, threatening another round of wintry showers across the nation at the end of this week with heavy rain and snow.
Weather analysts from WXCharts have flagged 13 cities at risk of a white blanket, including Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Coventry, Exeter, Gloucester, Hereford, Manchester, Plymouth, Stoke on Trent, Wolverhampton, and Worcester, and not forgetting Cardiff in Wales. The analysts’ weather maps show the snowy conditions are set to kick off around 6am on what could be a frosty January 30 morning.
According to BBC Weather: “Thursday will bring plenty of winter sunshine across the UK, with just a few showers, some wintry, in north Scotland and the Northern Isles. Friday will see a band of cloud and rain move across the UK with skies clearing behind it.”
And: “Saturday will be mostly dry and cloudy at first, with rain pushing in from the west in the evening.”
In contrast, the Met Office predicts a more tranquil weather front ahead, courtesy of an incoming high-pressure ridge that promises a brighter, calmer Thursday for all, reports the Mirror.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Chris Almond, revealed: “Most areas will be dry with sunny spells on Thursday, although there’s the risk of some freezing fog patches at first.
“Cloud, outbreaks of rain and hill snow will spread to the northwest by the end of the day, and Friday will see a cloudy day in the south, with some sunshine further north, before the next band of cloud and rain arrives in the northwest later. Overall though, rainfall amounts will be lower than of late.”
At the same time, an agency spokesperson indicated: “After some early frost, mostly fine on Thursday with sunny intervals. Rain moving southeast on Friday with drier interludes on Saturday, although a continued risk of rain in the northwest.”
Looking ahead into February, the Met Office warned for February 2-11: “Periods of wet weather are likely to affect northern parts of the UK at times, particularly early in this period. Some heavy rain is possible and this is likely to be accompanied by spells of strong winds.
“South of this, across the rest of the UK, it is likely to be more settled and whilst some rain can’t be ruled out at times, there is likely to be plenty of dry weather through this period.
“Winds will be lighter and this will bring the risk of overnight frost and fog. Overall, temperatures will be close to normal for most, but it is likely to be mild at times in the north. Brief colder spells are likely in between weather systems though.”
