Next week could deliver three successive days of snow as the white stuff appears set to blanket major cities.
Advanced weather forecasting maps indicate snow falling from the early hours of Wednesday through to Friday, with cities including both London and Manchester in the line of fire. The Met Office has also stated there is a possibility of snow next week.
The ECMWF weather model initially indicates snow falling in the western parts of Scotland, England and Wales on Wednesday. The heaviest flurries are anticipated in Scotland to start with, where the data suggests snow could fall at a rate of around four inches per hour.
By midday on Wednesday, the maps indicate snow will have reached the southern parts of England, north of London and around Gloucestershire. Northern Ireland could experience some snow around this time, too.
Snow coverage maps for Wednesday indicate as much as 9cm could settle in Scotland, 6cm in Wales, 3cm in south-west England, and 2cm in northern England and Northern Ireland.
Sporadic flurries are anticipated on Thursday, whilst on Friday, a band of snow appears set to sweep across the UK. Maps for around 6am indicate snow falling from Newcastle down to London.
Snow coverage maps for Friday indicate as much as 12cm (roughly five inches) could settle on the ground in Scotland. Settled snow could reach as far south as Stoke-on-Trent.
The Met Office has also indicated there is a possibility of snow in some areas next week. The national weather agency stated: “Early next week, a more mobile Atlantic pattern develops, with rain spreading into northern and western areas on Monday and Tuesday, occasionally turning to snow over the Scottish mountains. Stronger winds are expected in the north, with coastal gales at times.
“By Wednesday, the UK will be in a cooler and more unstable north‐to‐north-westerly flow, bringing frequent showers, some heavy and wintry over higher ground. Snow could possibly reach lower levels in the north later in the day. Temperatures will be near or a little below average.”
BBC Weather concurs. Its forecast reads: “High pressure should slip away and become centred to the south-west of the UK, allowing a couple of frontal systems to move across during the first half of next week. These will bring wet and windy spells, with the heaviest rain in northern and western regions.
“In between there should be a brighter, chillier interlude with winds swinging around to the north-west, bringing scattered showers. These could be wintry over higher ground, especially in the northern half of the UK.”