New weather maps have started to show the UK just moments before a widespread freeze begins to push over Britain as the nation prepares for chaos next week.
An arctic airmass will exert itself on Britain’s weather systems, bringing thermometers down to sub-zero temperatures for all of the nation. According to the timing of a cold weather alert, the wrath will start on Sunday and could last for up to a week.
The brutal forecast will take a firm grip from the middle of next week, where cold air will “firmly sit in place” over the UK – with the Met Office now confirming “disruptive snow” will hit some areas as milder Atlantic air pushes in from the south west.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist David Hayter said: “While the initial snow risk from Sunday onwards is looking most likely to be coastal areas in the north of the UK, including North Sea and Irish Sea coasts, there’s an ongoing likelihood of some disruptive snow through the middle to latter part of next week.
“What we’re keeping an eye on for this disruptive snow is where exactly this milder air from the southwest bumps into the cold air that will be in place over the UK.
“It’s where these airmasses meet that there’s a likelihood of some substantial snow for some places. At the moment, models are showing us a variety of options for exactly when and how this situation plays out and it’s something we’ll be able to add more details to in the coming days.”
According to forecasters at Netweather, the larges snow deluge will hit the UK on Friday, January 19, with the country set to be covered in the white stuff by Saturday, January 20.
They say Scotland, Wales, the south coast of England, Norfolk and parts of Suffolk all have between 65pc and 80pc chance of snow while other areas such as the north-west of England, parts of Northern Ireland and Essex could also see some flakes.
But predictions should be taken with precaution as the Met Office says snow predictions are difficult to make more than two days in advance.
Maps show sporadic snow fall could hit isolated parts of Britain from Monday, but currently it does look as though Friday, January 19 is when wintry showers will hit almost all of Britain.
But the Met Office long-range forecast from January 16 to 25 turns attentions to more than a week’s time when “there is a risk of something potentially disruptive at some point this period.”
It says in full: “Cold with wintry showers affecting northwestern coasts, with showers moving inland especially in the north, clearer in the south. Potential for more persistent snow through Tuesday in the northwest.
“There is risk of unsettled weather pushing in from the south through midweek, potentially leading to areas of snow and sleet where it meets the colder air across the country.
“Confidence is low regards the timing of the arrival of any such disturbance, but there is an increasing risk of something potentially disruptive at some point in this period.
“Widespread frosts continue by night with wintry showers from the northwest between further potential pulses of snow as weather fronts move in from the west these likely drawing in milder conditions by next weekend.”
