Incredible weather maps show temperatures in Britain plummeting well below freezing across most of the UK later this month, as the UK is set to be pummelled by a Polar ice blast.
The latest weather maps by WX Charts, compiled using data from the Metdesk, shows temperatures will plunge to an icy -8C in central Scotland at around lunchtime next Thursday, January 18. Nowhere in Scotland will be warmer than -3C as this time, while the mercury will also plummet below 0C as far south as Cardiff and north London.
It will be around -4C in Newcastle, -5C in Manchester and 0C in Birmingham at the same time, according to the weather forecast. At the time of the big freeze, most of the country will be covered in a blanket of snow, with a “winter overview” map revealing most of the UK north of Manchester will have snow lying on the ground, while Birmingham is set to be covered in a large sheet of ice.
Hours after the freezing cold temperatures threaten to wreak havoc across the UK, two giant walls of rain with a 1,000-mile rain bomb barreling across the UK, stretching from the north west of Scotland across the English Channel towards Lille, France.
Although the Met Office has not currently put any weather warnings in place for January 18, Brits should wrap up warm and take care underfoot when temperatures stay below freezing for an extended period of time.
Predicting the long-range forecast for the period between January 17 (the day before the -8C freeze) and January 31, a spokesperson for the Met Office said: “Compared to normal, there is an increased chance of colder than average conditions during this period. Currently the chance of widespread severe cold is still deemed low, but still the risk of impacts from cold, including ice and snow is greater than normal.”
However, the forecaster also predicted that it is likely to be drier than recent weeks, but what does fall is more likely to be of a wintry nature.
The forecast continued: “While there is a chance of brief, unsettled spells, which would bring milder air for a time, it would likely also be accompanied by a period of sleet or snow. However, when, or even if, this would happen is very uncertain, and overall the main theme will be much more in the way of settled conditions through this period.”
Weather maps showing “peak wind gust” on January 18 have turned white and blue – signifying a weak but chilly wind covering most of the UK from the north of Scotland down to Cardiff and Birmingham – which will make temperatures feel even colder than what they actually are across Britain.
Wednesday, January 3 to Sunday, January 7
Headline:
Drier for most with winds slowly easing. Rain over Scotland.
Today:
Rain across northern and eastern Scotland will gradually ease and clear east. Otherwise it will be a day of sunny spells and blustery showers, heavy with hail and thunder possible in the south and west. Winds slowly easing, feeling cooler.
Tonight:
Some rain persisting across eastern Scotland. Otherwise a mostly dry night with light winds and some clear spells developing, an odd shower in the west. Chilly with a local frost.
Thursday:
A largely fine day with sunny periods and just the low chance of a shower, mainly in the west. Cloudier in the northeast. Light winds with temperatures near to average.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
A few showers on Friday, these mainly in coastal areas. Thereafter, high pressure building over the weekend bringing generally dry weather. Often fairly cloudy with some sunny intervals. Turning colder.
