New weather maps show a giant wall of snow heading towards Britain as another cold spell descends on the country.
Temperatures will soon fall again following some brief respite from the cold, snowy weather of the last two weeks, with charts showing lows plummeting towards zero during the coming weeks.
As a new trend takes shape, the chances of snow increases, according to snowfall probability models. The maps suggest precipitation will fall across the country, especially in the north and Scotland.
The increasing probability plotted on the map bears the resemblance of a wall of snow heading straight for the UK from mainland Europe. Models posted by WXCharts tracking the “probability of falling snow” show chances increasing slightly from Monday, December 11.
Only northern Scotland appears on track to receive any snowfall by then, and the chances are low, less than 10 percent. In the days following, that probability will increase threefold, according to the maps.
On Tuesday, December 12, it is possible that England, Wales, and Northern Ireland will also see snow showers, with the chances of Scotland seeing snow increasing to more than 20 percent.
The likelihood of snowfall any further south remains low, hovering around one percent until Wednesday, December 13.
By then, snow is no longer likely in Northern Ireland, but small showers are possible in Wales and on the south and southeast coasts of England.
While the chances are low in those areas, wintry showers in Scotland become much more likely, especially over high ground, where the probability increases to the high 20 percent and low 30 percent range.
The patchy snow forecast and lower temperatures are in line with long-range predictions from the Met Office covering December 10 to 19.
The agency has forecast an “unsettled” period with low pressure moving northeast mirroring the snow probability maps, which suggest weather in Europe will influence snowfall in the UK.
The Met Office long-range forecast states: “This period is likely to often be unsettled with areas of low pressure tracking northeastwards close to or over the UK.
“This means bands of rain moving in from the west or southwest, interspersed with brighter showery conditions. As such, the wettest weather is likely to be across western high ground, though all parts could see some heavy rain at times.
“There is a greater than normal likelihood of periods of very windy weather too. Potential for a drier spell of weather to develop for a time around mid-month, particularly in the south, with frost and fog more prevalent. Overall, a relatively mild period for the UK, with above average temperatures more likely than not, especially so in the south and west.”
December 6:
A cold and frosty start with patchy fog or freezing fog, slow to clear in places. Mostly dry with sunny spells, turning windier and cloudier from the west through the day with rain following later. Becoming milder in the southwest.
December 7:
A band of locally heavy rain and associated strong winds with coastal gales, will move east and northeast overnight. Milder air will start to ebb northeast too.
December 8:
Dull with pulses of rain, particularly heavy along south-facing hills and coasts. Becoming drier from the west during the afternoon. Widely windy with strong gusts and coastal gales. Noticeably milder.
December 9 to December 11:
An unsettled end to the week with further heavy showers and rain. Often windy, but feeling mild when sheltered with temperatures climbing above average for the time of year.
