UK weather latest: More snow to hit Britain as temperatures set to plunge, forecasters warn

Thermometers are expected to drop to just above 0c by the weekend after a spell of warm weather throughout the week

Jeff Farrell
Monday 20 November 2017 14:05 GMT
Comments
A 4x4 on roads in the village of Carrbirdge in the Scottish Highlands where snow fell last week
A 4x4 on roads in the village of Carrbirdge in the Scottish Highlands where snow fell last week

Britain is set to see snow again next weekend when temperatures are forecast to plummet to close to 0C, after a warmer period during the week.

A break in flow of air coming down from the Arctic will result in a spell of unseasonably warm weather from Monday and throughout the week, with highs of up to 14C in some areas by Wednesday.

But the improved outlook will be dampened by heavy rain expected to batter parts of the UK, with a weather warning set to be announced.

The big freeze will then see thermometers drop to about 2C overnight on Friday into Saturday, the Met Office forecast.

It follows the icy temperatures seen in the past two days that saw snowfall across some areas, mostly in the north and Scotland - the first snowfall of the season.

“We’re looking at temperatures dropping to single digits, and with snow possible in parts of Scotland and in the North,” Met Office spokeswoman Emma Sharples told The Independent.

A Met Office weather report predicted: “Friday will probably be wet and windy for many, with heavy rain pushing across most parts, perhaps giving some hill snow in Scotland. It is likely to be mild in the south, but rather cold in the north.”

Ms Sharples added that temperatures in the meantime would rise to around the “mid teens” in the coming days but that heavy rain was on the cards for the North West by Wednesday.

She said the Met Office expected to issue a yellow weather warning for rain.

“It is the lowest warning but it means that people might want to think twice about making a long journey or think about clearing up the leaves around their drains,” Ms Sharples said.

The heavy rain, snow and dropping temperatures come amid fears that La Niña is affecting weather patterns here.

The global phenomenon is believed to have already contributed to icy conditions here this winter as a jet stream of freezing weather is set to spin from the Pacific Ocean towards Britain.

But Ms Sharples said it was “difficult to tell” how La Niña affected the UK because the weather here was caused by a number of conditions such as what comes in from the Atlantic.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in