UK weather: Britain braces for nearly 8ins of snow – before temperatures RISE to 14C in ‘noticeable shift’ in just days
BRITS have been told to brace for eight inches of snow just before the temperature rises up to double digits.
Parts of the UK will jump up to 14C but not before a blanket of snow hits the east, The Met Office warns.
Parts of East Anglia were hit by snow over the weekend, and some areas of the UK could continue to see snowfall into Monday, the forecaster said.
Meteorologist Ellie Glaisyer said: “Over the weekend so far we’ve seen a couple of centimetres in the east.
“Going forward, we could see between 1cm and 3cm in parts of Scotland above 100m and the same in the north of the UK Monday into Tuesday.
“In the highest areas, above 300m, Scotland could see up to 20cm.”
As rain moves from Northern Ireland to Scotland during this cold snap it could lead to hazardous “freezing rain.”
This occurs when “supercooled” water droplets fall at below 0C in liquid form.
When they fall and strike a surface, they freeze on impact, forming a glaze of ice.
The Met Office has warned to be careful during rush hour as freezing rain can turn roads “into an ice rink.”
Aside from a scattering of snow in the north other areas of the UK will face frosty mornings this week with it being largely dry down south.
This comes after much of the UK has seen “anticyclonic gloom” over the past week, causing dull skies, with some areas not having seen the sun in more than a week.
Freezing rain and cold showers hit regions in Wales and the rest of the UK was plunged into grey skies and bitter winds.
After a couple of day with the de-icer at hand, temperatures start to turn and will even get to the mid teens within a few days.
Despite a touch of frost and some cloudy patches, it might finally start getting warmer with clear skies peeking through.
Temperatures could rise to 13C or 14C by the middle of the week, with sunshine in a number of areas on Monday, Ms Glaisyer added.
Brits might get a few intermittent rays of sunshine amongst cold southeasterly winds but generally it should start getting milder throughout the week.
The predicted temperatures of 14C by the middle of the week are well above February’s average, with 6C the usual monthly average in Scotland and 9C in southern England, which will be a “noticeable shift” after the last fortnight which was below average, Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey previously said.
These warmer temperatures will be noticeable from Thursday where Belfast and Manchester reach 14C.
London will also jump to 14C on the Friday with Edinburgh and Belfast reaching 13C by the end of the week.
More western areas are likely to see some rain during the week, while eastern areas are forecast to stay drier.
UK 5 day weather forecast
Today:
England and Wales will tend to stay dry, with some bright or sunny spells. Northern Ireland will remain cloudy. Scotland will see some bright spells, but also the risk of some wintry showers. Feeling chilly, with a brisk southeasterly breeze.
Tonight:
Outbreaks of rain moving across northwestern parts of the UK through this evening and overnight, falling as snow for parts of Scotland. Dry elsewhere with a patchy frost forming.
Tuesday:
Rain and hill snow will clear from the north tomorrow. A breezy day for many, with some sunny spells. Still feeling cold, with a brisk southeasterly breeze.
Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:
Turning much milder through this period, but also more unsettled. Bands of rain are likely most days, especially across the north and west. Often windy, with the risk of gales.