The UK’s atmosphere could appear much like Norway’s next month, maps suggest, as temperatures plummet and the chances of snow increase.
Charts and graphs from multiple agencies show that following the latest mild trend, temperatures will plummet in February.
Long-range forecasts from the Met Office have pinpointed an “increased chance of wintry weather” early next month.
Maps suggest the weather may gradually get colder from then onwards, especially by February 12.
Around then, some charts show the UK appears set to share in atmospheric changes happening above Norway.
Maps from Netweather show bitterly low temperatures high above Norway on February 12, with the country highlighted in deep blue and purple.
The 500hPa maps – which show atmospheric rather than surface-level temperatures – highlight the UK in the same colour.
The colours mean that the “isothermal layer” is lower than elsewhere shown on the map, roughly 100 metres above the surface in England.
In Scotland, the layer appears set to settle on land, bringing temperatures closer to those in Norway.
Maps from WXCharts show that by Wednesday, February 14, it is possible that lows could reach -8C. Even London and areas further down south could experience a chilly -1 to 0C.
Like Norway, the country could see some snowfall around that time, with weather maps revealing most of Britain could experience snow showers spilling between February 12 and 13.
The snow will fall alongside rain and likely won’t cause any significant accumulations, with the Met Office warning in its long-range forecast that wet weather will punctuate much of February.
The forecast states: “Changeable conditions at first, with spells of mild, wet and windy weather punctuated by drier, cooler interludes. 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.”
