A wintry start to February is on the cards with temperatures set to plummet to -11C in the far north of Scotland in a bitter week-long freeze.
WXCHARTS weather maps show a stark drop in temperatures from around February 8, where northern England will also be plunged to the minuses overnight.
At around midnight, into February 9, maps show a mass snow fall will almost blanket the entire country – but showers may be sporadic south of Birmingham. In Wales, the overnight mercury is due to slip to a bitter -7C.
In particular, the Scottish Highlands are likely to see the deepest patches of snow, as well as areas just north of Glasgow.
The snowfall is predicted to land in North Wales and further south than Manchester. There may also be some isolated snowfall in and around Plymouth.
However, it should be noted that the Met Office advises that snow forecasting is notoriously difficult. The meteorologists say that snow predictions can only be accurately made within two days of the date in question.
Into the following week, temperatures are not set to recover for many. By February 16 temperatures will have slipped once more for the whole country – with central London immersed in freezing lows of -1C in the daytime.
It is around this date when the more widespread snow is thought to hit, with even areas such as Kent and Essex getting a dusting.
Looking ahead to next week, the Met Office says: “It looks to be an unsettled time as we look ahead. It turns colder across northern areas with showers, which will turn wintry at times especially over higher ground but potentially to lower levels too as the week progresses.
“There is a chance of wintry conditions developing more widely through the second half of next week as rain pushes up from the south for a time, but there is still uncertainty about the details of this.”
Headline: Mild with patchy rain, brighter in the east. Rather windy.
Today:
It will be a rather cloudy and windy day for many, with some patchy rain or drizzle at times in the west and northwest. Brighter spells in the east and to the lee of hills elsewhere. Very mild for all.
Tonight:
Mild and cloudy in the south with patchy rain in the west. Clearer and fresher feeling in the north with showers across western Scotland. Staying windy in the north.
Saturday:
Staying mostly cloudy and mild in the south with patchy rain in the west. Brighter with sunny spells elsewhere with showers across western Scotland. Windy in the north.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
Generally mild and rather cloudy into the start of the new week. Rain at times, especially in the north and west, and often windy. Turning colder from the north Tuesday.
Headline:
Mild with patchy rain, brighter in the east. Rather windy.
Today:
It will be a rather cloudy and windy day for many, with some patchy rain or drizzle at times in the west and northwest. Brighter spells in the east and to the lee of hills elsewhere. Very mild for all.
Tonight:
Mild and cloudy in the south with patchy rain in the west. Clearer and fresher feeling in the north with showers across western Scotland. Staying windy in the north.
Saturday:
Staying mostly cloudy and mild in the south with patchy rain in the west. Brighter with sunny spells elsewhere with showers across western Scotland. Windy in the north.
Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:
Generally mild and rather cloudy into the start of the new week. Rain at times, especially in the north and west, and often windy. Turning colder from the north Tuesday.
