A bitter -3C freeze looks set to return to parts of the UK with snow on the cards for some, weather maps show.
The snow could be as deep as 7cm on higher ground as a large swathe of northern Britain gets a dusting in the early hours of March 5, according to WX Charts.
Maps generated by the weather service on Sunday (February 23) show snow affecting the Highlands, Moray, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Perth and Kinross, Argyll and Bute, Stirling and Clackmannanshire.
If the maps prove accurate this far ahead, then snow could also fall in parts of West Dunbartonshire and East Dunbartonshire at 6am on March 5, according to WX Charts’ maps.
Large parts of the rest of the UK look set for rain, including East Anglia, North Somerset, North Devon, South and Mid-Wales, Greater Manchester and Cumbria, the maps show.
Another map generated by WX Charts shows minimum temperatures at midnight on March 6 dropping as low as -3C in parts of western Scotland. Northern England looks set for 1-4C, the Midlands 6-7C, East Anglia 5-6C, Wales 5-8C and the south 7-9C.
Netweather’s monthly forecast includes snow during March 3-9. While the forecaster says it will be mostly mild there is a chance of one or two blasts of colder, polar air from the west or north-west, bringing hail, sleet and snow especially in the north. The forecaster says significant lying snow will most likely be confined to higher ground.
Separately, the Met Office’s long-range forecast (February 27-March 8) expects weather systems coming off the Atlantic, bringing “changeable” weather.
Britons should brace for wet, windy weather and the risk of heavy rain and gales, with the strongest rain and wind “most likely” in western and northwestern parts of the UK.
Some drier and brighter spells are likely to bring lighter winds and sunshine but perhaps a few showers while temperatures are forecast to be above average overall.
The Met Office notes there could be some short-lived, slightly colder days possible at times, especially in the north. The forecaster doesn’t mention snow in its long range forecast.
Met Office UK five-day weather forecast
Sunday, February 23 – Thursday, February 27
Headline: Wet and windy on Sunday with sunny spells and showers on Monday.
Wind and rain are expected to spread eastwards on Sunday morning, reaching all but the far southeast of England by nightfall. It will turn drier and brighter from the west later on but there will also be blustery showers. It will be windy with gales, some of which will be severe.
Cloud and rain will linger across the south and east of the country overnight. Elsewhere will see clear spells with blustery showers. These will be most frequent in the north and west. Winds will slowly ease.
It will be brighter on Monday with sunshine and showers. In some spots these will be heavy and possibly thundery. Winds will be lighter for most, apart from the far north and west of Scotland. It will be mild.
The outlook for Tuesday to Thursday is for sunny spells and showers for many on Tuesday. These could be heavy and possibly thundery for some. Another band of rain is likely to move in from the west from Wednesday into Thursday.
