Millions of Britons face days of snowfall in just days as brutal conditions roll in from the Atlantic, new weather maps have suggested.
Forecast data collected by WXCharts.com shows vast swathes of the UK being bucketed with rain on Tuesday, February 25, affecting major cities including Birmingham, Manchester, and London, with pockets of snowfall in Wales and northern England.
By February 27, parts of central Scotland could be seeing as much as 8cm of snow per hour also hanging over large stretches of northern England, almost all of Wales, the Midlands and parts of southern England as rain continues in various areas, the maps indicate.
Parts of England that could be affected by snow include areas around Manchester, Birmingham, London, and Plymouth in the southwest.
Almost all of Wales and Northern Ireland face a run of days bringing either snow or rain from February 25 to the start of March.
Maps showing potential conditions on March 1 show the grim conditions persisting, with snowfall covering much of Scotland, parts of northern England, including areas around Newcastle, and large stretches of Northern Ireland.
Rainclouds also look to still be hanging over most of the UK, with the likes of Edinburgh, the major cities of England, as well as parts of Northern Ireland and Wales in for a soaking.
By March 2, much of the active snowfall could begin to ease off, though accumulations will remain on the ground in across much of Scotland and Northern Ireland, with rain continuing, especially in Northern Ireland.
The Met Office’s long-range forecast for Friday, February 21 to Sunday, March 2, says that Atlantic frontal systems are “likely to spread across the UK from the west during this period”, bringing “spells of rain to many parts of the UK”.
“The heaviest and most prolonged rainfall is expected to be in west and northwestern areas, particularly over higher ground, with rainfall totals much lower in the east and southeast,” it continues.
“Strong winds are also likely to develop at times, especially along coasts where gales or severe gales are possible.
“Between weather systems, some drier and more settled interludes are expected, these bringing lighter winds and sunny spells, perhaps accompanied by a few showers.
“Temperatures are likely be above average, especially early in this period when it will be very mild,” it adds.
You can find the latest Met Office forecasts and warnings here.
