The latest UK maps show that Britain is set to be blasted by a rare weather event next month. Maps on WX Charts – compiled by data using the Metdesk – have revealed that parts of the country will be pummelled by snow and freezing rain on Tuesday, February 6.
The weather maps have turned bright orange and dark purple – signifying freezing rain and deep snow – with the Met Office explaining how the “freezing rain” phenomenon is incredibly rare.
The freezing rain alert is in place for six hours between Tuesday, February 6 and midnight next Wednesday in the north of Scotland, as well as Aberdeenshire, while most of Scotland will be covered in snow, almost crossing the border into Newcastle and Carlisle in the north of England.
Wind chill maps show have turned icy white, indicating that freezing winds will sweep across the entirety of the UK overnight from February 6 to February 7, with gusts of up to 35 miles per hour – making it feel even colder than what it actually is, as temperatures are expected to plummet below freezing.
Meanwhile in the hours leading up to the freezing rain blasting into the north coast of Britian, WX Charts’ maps show a giant 400-mile wall of snow sweeping in from the north west of Britain thanks to a chilly Icelandic blast.
At midday on February 6, just a few hours before the freezing rain is set to hit – snow will cover most of Scotland from Inverness down to Dumfries and Galloway. It will then sweep eastwards towards Edinburgh and Abderdeen before moving towards Scandinavia.
The Met Office has issued its long-range forecast for the time between Saturday, February 3 and Monday, February 12 – when the cold weather and freezing rain is expected to hit. Weather experts have predicted “changeable conditions at first”, which will be followed by spells of mild, wet and windy weather punctuated by drier, cooler interludes.
The forecaster added: “The northwest is likely to see the heaviest and most frequent or most persistent rain, while the southeast will tend to be drier overall. Largely cloudy with the best of any sunshine in the east.
“There is a chance colder conditions could then become established more widely during the first full week of February, with increased chance of wintry weather, especially northern and central UK, should Atlantic cloud and rain be forced to track across the south of the country. Equally, similar conditions to the start of the period could well prevail; confidence is low at this range in the weather type which will become most dominant.”
Meanwhile separate weather maps show that as a wall of freezing rain and snow blasts into the UK, temperatures will plummet to -1C in the north of Scotland, and the mercury will plummet to 1C in Wales, 0C in the north of England and 1C down the east coast of England, including East Anglia. The warmest temperatures will be found in Plymouth and the south west of England, where it could reach up to 3C.
Predicting the long-rang forecast for the period between February 13 and February 27, a spokesperson for the Met Office said: “Following on from earlier in the month, either the period will start changeable with temperatures overall around average and a northwest to southeast split in conditions, or colder conditions will have become established, mainly across the north.
“Either way, through mid-February there is an increasing likelihood of more settled conditions with winds arriving from the north. This would increase the chance of some colder spells, with a greater likelihood of wintry conditions at times, particularly in the north and east.”
Tuesday, January 30 until Saturday, February 3
Headline:
Dry and bright today, but cloudy in the southeast
Today:
Skies will be cloudy in England and Wales in the morning, with outbreaks of drizzle in the southeast. Cloud will linger in southeast England during the afternoon, but elsewhere it will be a largely dry day with sunny spells.
Tonight:
Dry, clear and cold for many with a widespread frost. Fog patches may form in southeast England. Rain will spread into northwest Scotland later with strengthening winds in the north.
Wednesday:
Heavy rain and gales will spread across the north on Wednesday. Drier in the south and breezy, but turning increasingly cloudy with some drizzly outbreaks in the southwest.
Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:
Largely cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle over the next few days, although staying mostly dry in the east. Breezy and fairly mild.
