Dramatic new maps show nearly all of Britain could be caked in a layer of snow in a matter of days. The data, compiled by MetDesk, shows an onslaught of snow from January 18 covering nearly all of the country.
Even the south east looks set to receive a dusting, in what is tipped to be the first real big freeze this winter has delivered. Meteorologists suggest that, after a mild and stormy start to the winter, a big freeze will grip wider Europe this month.
Within 48 hours, more wintry showers are due to hit Britain, bringing chaos to the roads and public transport networks. Scotland will bear the brunt with up to 22cm of snow in higher elevations.
While up to 15cm of snow could be dumped across the north of England. Meanwhile, Wales will be covered by a range of snow depth, with up to 16cm in mountainous areas like Snowdonia and around 4cm in cities like Cardiff.
Even London, which has so far missed out on any snow this winter, could be hit in the snowstorm. The capital as well as East Anglia could wake up to around one to two centimetres of snow.
Finally, the Midlands is forecast to receive nine centimetres of snow, while Northern Ireland will see around two centimetres. Netweather senior forecast Jo Farrow explained: “The colder continental air is being pulled in from the east towards the UK.
“We are only at the start of January, still a fair few weeks to go in this winter.” The UK, along with much of Europe, experienced an unseasonably mild autumn and December.
However, this month, temperatures are expected to sink below seasonal averages in the UK, France and Germany, according to meteorologists surveyed by Bloomberg.
The French national forecaster Météo-France expects temperatures to stay 20 percent colder and drier on average than the norm through March.
The deep Arctic freeze has already gripped the Nordic countries, with extreme cold weather hitting parts of Sweden, Finland and Norway.
On Tuesday night, the Kvikkjokk-Arrenjarka weather station in northern Sweden recorded its coldest night for 25 years as temperatures dropped to -43.6C.
The cold weather led to 1,000 vehicles being trapped in heavy snow for more than 24 hours on a Swedish motorway. Jo Farrow added: “The intense cold has, provisionally, resulted in the coldest Scandinavian temperature this century.
“In Lapland, those visiting Santa will often arrive at Enontekio airport in northern Finland, which fell to -44.3C this week.”
