Snowy conditions could strike parts of the UK this week, charts and maps have suggested, as a cold weather system arrives on the east coast. Temperatures have recently shifted across the country thanks to the arrival of a plume of cold air.
While the mercury has broadly trended upwards in the run-up to spring, satellites have picked up a high atmosphere shift and -1C gusts across some areas.
The system will only continue to develop over the next few days, the maps have suggested, bringing snow to a large chunk of the country.
Several parts of Britain could see gentle showers as the seasons change this week, forecasts suggest.
Met Office weather maps show snow showers developing over the UK on Friday, March 1, with the first few flakes falling in Wales.
Flurries will develop around the home nation’s southwest and central coast at Pembrokeshire, Carmarthen and further inland at the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park before dawn, around 5am.
The snow seems set to track north across Wales throughout the morning, leaving the southwest and settling in a broad band covering the north-to-south coasts, with between 0.5mm and 4mm falling per hour.
The system will likely remain into the evening, briefly returning to the south at Swansea and Cardiff before a new cluster of showers appears over Scotland and northern England.
By 6pm, maps show a swirling mass of snow developing over Cumbria, falling lightly at first over Brough.
Other towns, including Kendal, Penrith, Hexham and Rochester, will see slightly more, again between 0.5mm and 4mm.
Similar totals are expected in Scotland, namely around the border with England, where flurries coming off the Northumberland National Park could hit several smaller towns east of Jedburgh.
Over the following few hours, the forecast suggests that other towns further north, including Jedburgh itself, Moffat, Deanburnhaugh and Lauder, could also see snowy showers before the system dissipates off the west coast.
The long-range weather forecast warns that in the days and week following, some Britons could see stormier conditions, especially in the south, where the March 3 to 12 period will start “unsettled and showery” with “persistent rain and strong winds”.
The forecast adds: “Through the week, there is some uncertainty, but high pressure may build to the east, bringing drier and more settled conditions (with some spring sunshine) for a time, especially in eastern areas, with western parts always more at risk of seeing further spells of rain and strong winds.
“Towards the middle of March, a typical mixture of conditions looks most likely with spells of rain interspersed with brighter, drier intervals.
“Temperatures are likely to be around, or a little above average, but some cold nights are certainly still possible.”
Today:
Early morning mist and fog soon clearing in the south. Dry to start for most on Wednesday, but rain moving eastwards, covering all parts by the evening. Rain heaviest on western hills. Breezy for many, especially on higher ground.
Tonight:
Rain and drizzle for many, with heaviest of the rain in western Scotland, northern England and Wales. Turning heavy in the southwest later. Clearer spells develop for the north later.
Thursday:
Rain in the southeast, with drier spells further north. Showers in the west which can turn wintry in the north and on high ground. Drier towards the northeast.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
Turning colder and more unsettled on Friday and Saturday, with heavy rain in some places. A risk of sleet and hill snow, possibly reaching lower levels.
