Brits will face biting cold weather conditions as maps show a giant wall of snow moving across the country as temperatures plummet to -5C.
Maps from WXCharts show the massive band of snow moving up the country on February 8. The swift change in the weather comes after a mild weekend as the Met Office warns of “unsettled days ahead”.
The latest maps have turned purple for areas in the Midlands, indicating heavy snow showers, which are expected from 6am on Thursday. The cold temperatures will then sweep across the United Kingdom, with snow predicted for Belfast, Manchester and Newcastle from 9am.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for Wales, the Midlands, the North West, Yorkshire and Humber and the East of England, saying there is “a small chance of travel delays on roads with some stranded vehicles and passengers” and “a slight chance that some rural communities could become cut off” from 3am on Thursday.
As the band of snow heads north, reaching Scotland by the early hours of Friday temperatures are expected to drop to -5C.
By February 10, the entire country seems to be gripped by the brutal cold weather conditions as maps turn purple.
The Met Office stated: “It looks to be an unsettled time as we look ahead. It turns colder across northern areas with showers, which will turn wintry at times especially over higher ground but potentially to lower levels too as the week progresses.
“There is a chance of wintry conditions developing more widely through the second half of next week as rain pushes up from the south for a time, but there is still uncertainty about the details of this.”
Central regions of the UK appear to be at the highest risk of experiencing snowfall, although this may extend due to the forecast of very cold temperatures in the north.
Forecasters anticipate an uncertain end to the week, with the possibility of some rain and snow that could potentially be disruptive in certain areas.
Netweather forecaster Nick Finnis predicts that after a mild bout of weather this past week, in the next few days, winter will “bite back”.
Today:
Most areas will have a dry, cloudy, windy but mild day. Patchy rain and fog affecting western hills. A few brighter breaks. Scotland will see more persistent rain, heaviest in the west, and with some snow in the northeast.
Tonight:
Rain moving south across Scotland and affecting Northern Ireland and northern England. Cloudy, windy, but mild further south with patchy drizzle. Clearer with wintry showers and icy patches further north.
Tuesday:
Rain, some heavy, continuing south across England and Wales. Staying mostly dry, but windy in the southeast. Brighter, colder weather developing across Scotland and Northern Ireland, with some wintry showers.
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:
Mostly fine, but colder on Wednesday with early frost. Patchy rain far south and wintry showers in the north. Rain, with some snow moving north across many areas Thursday and Friday.
