Large parts of the UK are set to be hit by heavy snow and bitterly cold weather, according to new weather maps.
Forecasts for March 3 and March 4 show a blanket of white covering great swathes of the country, accompanied by rain, wind and a decisive drop in the mercury.
According to WXCharts, snow will begin falling in Scotland and northern England on Monday evening, accumulating to depths of 2cm on the Highlands, before moving southwards overnight.
By Tuesday morning, almost the whole of the UK, from northwestern Scotland down to the Essex coast, could be painted purple, with depths reaching 4cm in Wales and the West Midlands.
Temperatures are also expected to drop to subzero levels for most of the country by 6am on March 4, with lows of -3C in Scotland, and hovering around 0C for most of England, rising to 2C in the south.
A total of 27 counties across the UK are set to be hit by the snowstorm, which will be the latest in a series of cold spells for the country – with snow hitting some areas just last weekend.
The Met Office’s long-range forecast for February 24 to March 5 warns of “uncertain” conditions, with “cold and showery” weather and some risk of snow, especially in northern regions.
From March 5 onwards, Atlantic frontal systems could spring more heavy rain and strong wind, the forecaster warns, although temperatures could stay above the seasonal average.
Today:
Dry, bright weather for most of the country, with some rain in the east. Coastal gales possible in the north.
Tonight:
Cloudy but increasingly mild across the UK, with cloud gathering and wind continuing to grow in the north and west.
Thursday:
Stormy showers expected to move eastwards across the country, with some sunny breaks. Mild temperatures that could feel cooler due to windy conditions.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
Unsettled weather across the UK, with wind and rain expected, especially in the north and west. Temperatures continuing to grow milder, particularly in the southwest.
