The Met Office has warned that snow could swamp the UK within the hour as temperatures rapidly plummet to zero. Weather maps have shown a patchy forecast for the country this week, with a distinct north-south split.
The south will remain comparatively mild for the time of year as the north and Scotland experience bitter lows.
Temperatures could drop below zero further north, while southerners see the mercury reach the low teens by this coming Thursday.
The north-south split also appears set to translate into precipitation, with a snowier picture developing for Scotland and northern England.
Met Office meteorologists have forecast that cloud and rain will spread across most of the country this week and turn to snow across Scotland by 12pm this afternoon.
The forecasters said: “Cloud and rain will spread across northern Scotland with some hill snow.
“Elsewhere, largely cloudy and mild with outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Some brighter spells in eastern England.”
Charts show Scotland will be especially cold this week, with minimum temperatures hovering around -2C and -3C.
WXCharts shows snowfall and brief freezing rain over the Scottish east coast this afternoon, with settled totals reaching between 2cm and 4cm over much of the country’s north.
Additional snow late on Wednesday will cause those totals to nearly double, with accumulations of up to 7cm in the Highlands.
Rain will wash over the country in successive showers towards the end of this week, the maps suggest, ahead of another mild and dry spell for the country following the coming weekend.
The Met Office long-range forecast for February 17 to 26 predicts a “rather unsettled” weekend on Saturday, February 17 and Sunday, February 18, before the weather takes a mild turn.
The forecast states: “The weekend is likely to remain rather unsettled with further rain or showers for many, and it will often be mild, but by the start of next week, high pressure might start to take hold and bring more settled conditions.
“This could bring a greater incidence of night-time frosts and fog. How long this drier weather lasts is uncertain, as mild, cloudy conditions with outbreaks of rain or drizzle are expected to return from the west or southwest either later in the week or during the following weekend.
“Northern parts of the UK may see the best of any remaining dry and frosty conditions, with the south most likely to see the worst of the rainfall.”
Today:
Sunshine and showers across Scotland. Starting largely dry elsewhere, and quickly clouding over. Outbreaks of rain in the southwest will gradually spread across England and Wales through the day, but it will stay mostly dry and cloudy in Northern Ireland.
Tonight:
Cloudy and mild for most places tonight with outbreaks of rain and drizzle at times. Skies will stay clear in northern Scotland where it will be chilly with a frost.
Wednesday:
Cloud and rain will spread across northern Scotland with some hill snow. Elsewhere, largely cloudy and mild with outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Some brighter spells in eastern England. Mild.
Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:
Heavy rain moving east on Thursday. Drier and brighter Friday with a few showers in England and Wales. Rain in the west on Saturday, but drier in the east.
