Met Office UK weather forecast for the week ahead
A “battleground of air masses” could see the UK covered in snow as an “arctic flow” sweeps the country next week. This Sunday will temperatures plummeting to some of the lowest this winter as the mercury could reach as low as -14C in Scotland and -8C in England, a metereologist has told Express.co.uk.
The snow risk is the highest in the UK since 2010, other experts has claimed, as the snow long awaited by weather experts appears set to land.
Weather maps depict the UK covered in snow as numerous forecasting sites predict a heavy dose of the white stuff. Jim Dale, senior meteorologist at British Weather Services, explained to Express.co.uk how it all comes down to a “battle” between a brutal Arctic freeze and a milder front from the Atlantic.
Snow chaos is tipped to arrive in Britain in matter of days (Image: WXCHARTS)
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He said: “Right now there’s not a lot of precision, but there is some. The first is that on Sunday there’s a front coming from the north, and that will introduce the arctic air. That’s your first step and that is a guarantee. That will see temperatures plummet – potentially minus 10 in Scotland, and minus threes, fours, fives for most of England, Wales and Northern Ireland”.
“Minus 12 or 13 is a possibility on Monday through to Wednesday, and maybe minus seven in some places in England.
“What then happens is that introduces snow showers. Scotland will start to go under on Sunday. The north might see sporadic bits and pieces here and there in northern Wales and England.
“What that’s doing is sending a message, and the message is: we’re in the arctic flow.”
Mr Dale said an “Arctic flow” will sweep the country, with maps showing fierce winds (Image: Ventusky)
This will then meet with a warmer front approaching from the Atlantic. “Air coming in from the southwest will bang up against the Arctic flow,” he said.
“That moisture coming up will dictate who gets what, where and when. If it’s just south, it’ll only be snow in the channel area and France. If it pushes into middle England you can expect the mid-winter decent snow into these middle areas.
“But if it pushes further, then you can expect blanket snow over most of England and Wales and potentially Northern Ireland as well.”
However, predictions are not quite certain yet, he said.
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As the week progresses, snow will fall very heavily in Scotland, reaching 24cm, it is predicted (Image: WXCharts)
A “battle between air masses” will determine the snowfall coverage of the UK (Image: Ventusky)
“Now the difficulty is we’re not quite sure is how far that less cold air will go,” the weather expert said. “That’s what I would call at this point the battle of air masses – which wins, the polar air stream or the temperate Atlantic stream? That’s where we’re at right now. We are right on the cusp of that battleground to see how far up that actually goes. It can go either way.”
Exacta Weather forecaster James Madden told GB News: “Over the next few weeks, there will be a high chance of snow with the risk higher than the same period over the past few years or indeed, since the big freeze of 2010.
“It is likely we are about to start seeing images of vast regions of the nation covered in snow during a cold spell which is likely to hold out for an extended period. As well as the risk of snow, we will see harsh overnight frosts and the coldest temperatures dipping as low as -15C in the coldest parts of the country over the coming weeks.”
The cold streak could last next week and beyond (Image: WXCHARTS)
According to predictions by WXCharts, which uses data from Met Desk, elevated regions in the Brecon Beacons and Cairngorms National Park could see around 40cm settled on the ground by Sunday, January 21. Meanwhile as much as 25cm could settle elsewhere in Scotland, 17cm in Wales, 8cm in the north of England, 11cm in the Midlands and 6cm further south, according to the weather agency.
Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: “We start with a northerly airflow and snow showers, especially near the coasts in the north. But there will also be brighter skies for some. Then, from the middle of next week, low pressure tries to move in from the southwest, and the impact of this is still a bit uncertain at this range.
“Different models are saying different things in terms of the track of this low, but you have the ingredients for snow with cold air in place and additional moisture supplied from the Atlantic, which will bring rain, but on the boundary with the cold air, you could see some snow.”
Met Office five-day forecast
Today:
Sunshine across the south of England becoming increasingly confined towards the southwest. Some sunny spells across western Scotland and Northern Ireland too. Otherwise rather cloudy with some drizzle in the northeast. A little less cold, but still feeling chilly.
Tonight:
A dry evening with cloud continuing to push westwards, perhaps thick enough for some drizzle over the hills overnight. A patchy frost possible underneath the clearest skies in the west.
Friday:
Often cloudy, mostly dry, with occasional sunny intervals and the odd spot of drizzle possible over the hills. Still feeling chilly with generally light winds. Rain later in northern Scotland.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Rather cloudy over the weekend with some sunny spells and showery rain on Sunday. Showers, possibly wintry, along the coasts on Monday with brighter skies elsewhere. Turning colder.
