Brits have been told to brace for snow in the coming days as an icy Arctic blast sends temperatures dropping, according to the latest weather charts.
New weather maps on WX Charts – compiled using data from the Metdesk – show snow falling from March 1 until March 6 – with up to 11cm falling in parts of Scotland. From 6am, most of the UK can expect snow showers, with parts of Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland waking up to the white stuff.
Scotland will be the worst hit, with snow likely coating the majority of the country until March 6 when it will begin to clear and make way for spring.
In England, parts of the Midlands and the north could experience flurries, including Manchester, Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent and Liverpool.
But this is expected to clear by March 2, with just a light coating left. Around 1cm is expected to fall in Manchester and Liverpool, while Wales will also see around 1cm.
A weather system running from Snowdonia is believed to be behind the sudden icy surge. The Met Office previously warned this last-gasp of winter may hit because of “blocked” air currents over Iceland and Greenland.
The unusually cold temperatures could be brought on by those air channels over Iceland freeing themselves up later this week or next.
A spokesman for WXCharts said: “Showers should reduce through Saturday, giving most areas a drier spell of weather. Further persistent rain and locally strong winds are likely to move into some southern areas on Sunday, though those further north are likely to see drier conditions.”
Meanwhile advice from the Met Office warned a “greater than normal chance” of cold temperatures would be felt in the final days of winter.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, a spokesperson for Met Office said: “Towards mid-March there is an increased chance of a greater likelihood of higher pressure as a ‘blocked’ pattern becoming established over Greenland and Iceland, with lower pressure towards the south and southwest.
“This is likely to bring a trend towards increasingly settled conditions, with the likelihood of drier than normal conditions, especially in the north. This may lead to a slightly greater than normal chance of colder than average temperatures, although this is mitigated as we move further into spring.”
Areas in Scotland will feel the final winter surge the most, with -6C expected at around 6am on March 1. Meanwhile, parts of northern England will see lows of -1C.
London can expect temperatures of around 3C, while parts of southern England including Cornwall and Plymouth will also wake up to cold temperatures of around 3C.
Sunday, February 25 until Thursday, February 29
Headline:
Wet and windy in the south, drier and brighter elsewhere.
This Evening and Tonight:
Rain in the south gradually clearing, though lingering in the far southeast with winds slowly ease through the evening. Mostly dry elsewhere with some coastal showers. Turning chilly with a patchy frost mainly in the north.
Monday:
Largely dry with sunny spells and a few showers, these mostly in the northeast. Rain and stronger winds in the southeast slowly easing through the day. Temperatures around average.
Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday:
Rain spreading southeast on Tuesday, then brighter with showers in the north. Dry start on Wednesday with further rain arriving from the west, turning heavy at times through Thursday.
