UK snow forecast maps have suggested that recent mild weather has lulled Britons into a false sense of security, as another snowy spell could be on the horizon.
Temperatures have recently trended upwards, with springlike highs in the low teens having tracked across the UK over the weekend, but many people will have awoken to a distinct chill this week.
The mercury touched a bracing 3C in England and -3C in Scotland this morning, with wind chill dropping even lower, with the average hitting 0C across the country and -4C in some regions.
While there was no sign of snow aside from a few showers this morning, the forecast seems subject to change, with maps showing a new cold front descending across the country in the coming weeks.
But forecasters have said everything is not as it appears and that it is time to “write off winter”.
Current maps from WXCharts suggest the weather will grow more wintry by the day as March approaches, with snowy showers descending over Scotland over the coming week.
More distant forecasts from NetWeather and Ventusky show temperatures descending to the minus range in the first few days of the new month and a wave of snow coating the country.
But weather forecasters are less certain, as they predict that, while there will be some colder weather next month, it will arrive among generally springlike weather.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, weather expert Phil Morrish said the UK can “write this winter off” as the new season is making itself known.
He said: “Although temperatures have returned to average there is no sign of a major cold spell or widespread snowfall.
“I think we can write this winter off now! There will be a little snow over the Scottish mountains and as far south as Northern England but again only on ground over 300m. There is not much cold air anywhere near the British Isles.
“It will be wet and windy at times, but with average temperatures 6 to 8C in the north and 8 to 9C in the south, which means just a little snow over the mountains.”
“Winter has always been 10 days away this year, but as soon as we get to five, the snow charts disappear in favour of mild wet weather!”
The Met Office long-range forecast, which covers March 2 to 11, states that temperatures will gradually “recover to near average for early March” over the period.
The forecast adds that any snow will be “limited to northern hills” and that rain would be the dominant precipitation.
