Cold air from Scandinavia

A dense pool of cold air over Scandinavia continues to exert a strong influence on the UK weather as weather systems from the Atlantic try to extend their influence. In this set up over the weekend and into next week rain will extend from the South West of the UK, while snow is likely to remain a hazard along the leading edge as it ‘bumps’ into colder air further north and east.

National Severe Weather Warning

Several National Severe Weather warnings have been issued.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Andy Page said: “Over the next few days we continue to see a division between milder conditions in the South West with much colder air to the north and east. The boundary between the two air masses will flex north and south bringing the potential for snow along the boundary between the two.

“Tomorrow begins with a weather front moving north from the South West triggering rain and snow warnings. In southern parts of Cornwall and Devon heavy rain will feature, particularly on higher ground. However, rain is likely to turn to sleet and snow across Wales and central England during the morning and then some parts of south and south-east England before it clears southwards again.

Risk of disruption

"The most likely areas for disruptive snow are across Wales and over the Cotswolds, where there is the risk of a few centimetres accumulating at lower elevations, but this could increase to 15cm or more at locations above 250m. A snow warning is in place place for this region until 6pm on Saturday. Saturday night will see temperatures falling away from the far South West, with a widespread sharp frost likely across the rest of the UK.”

 

 

Upcoming forecast

Jason Kelly is a Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist. Commenting on the forecast from Sunday and into next week, he said: “On Sunday we see another weather front bringing rain and snow east and north across the UK, but the most significant event in the forecast is a feature from late Monday evening, which threatens to bring rainfall across a swathe of  the UK from the south and west.

Risk of freezing rain

"In the colder air to the north of this system the rainfall will readily turn to snow or even freezing rain, affecting a large part of England and Wales north of the M4 corridor. A warning, in force from 9pm on Monday to just before midnight on Wednesday, highlights the risk of 1-4cm of snowfall quite widely, with up to 10cm accumulating on higher ground above 150m.

"The risk of freezing rain will be an additional threat across parts of eastern Wales and the west and south Midlands.  Snow should turn back to rain  lasting longest across parts of northern England.”

From Thursday colder air is likely to spread west across the UK, bringing drier conditions for most, though there is a risk of showers for some east coast areas.

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