Last-minute Christmas shoppers might want to wait just one more day to buy presents for loved ones as new maps show a huge band of snow arriving in a matter of hours.
Cumbria, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Lancashire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Warwickshire could all see snow falling from around 6am.
And the urban counties of Greater Manchester and Merseyside will also see potentially disruptive snowfall well into the morning perhaps bringing chaos for anyone seeking to buy some gifts.
Northern Ireland, most of Wales and western Scotland look likely to also see snow falling most of the morning, with Belfast and Glasgow in the firing line.
New forecast maps from WXCharts have revealed the imminent snow predictions, although the Met Office (at the time of writing) is yet to issue any snow-related weather warnings.
However, the national weather agency has issued a yellow warning for wind covering much of the west of the country from Cornwall to The Highlands, and reaching as far east as Birmingham.
In terms of snow on Sunday, WXCharts predicts parts of Scotland could see as much as three inches of snow falling per hour in some parts of the Highlands.
The Met Office forecast for Sunday reads: “A cold and very windy day on Sunday with sunny spells and blustery, wintry showers, these tending to fall as rain into the afternoon.
“Feeling cold despite the sunshine.”
For those still planning on heading out to try and get some supplies and presents tomorrow, the Met Office has the following advice for drivers:
- Accelerate gently, use low revs and change to higher gears as quickly as possible
- Starting in second gear will help with wheel slip
- Maintain a safe and steady speed. Keep your distance from other vehicles
- Keep a constant speed up hills. Leave plenty of room between cars
- Use a low gear to go down hill and try to avoid braking unless necessary
- Steer into skids. Do not take your hands of the wheel or slam on the brakes
This Evening and Tonight:
Frequent blustery showers continue overnight, turning increasingly to sleet and snow over the hills in the north and west. Some clear spells between the showers and remaining very windy.
Sunday:
A cold and very windy day on Sunday with sunny spells and blustery, wintry showers, these tending to fall as rain into the afternoon. Feeling cold despite the sunshine.
Outlook for Monday to Wednesday:
Turning milder during Monday and Christmas Eve with outbreaks of rain spreading southeast, and still windy. Drier in the south into Christmas Day although still rather damp in the north.
