Brits could be bracing themselves for another blast of wintry weather, as fresh maps suggest a snowstorm may sweep across the country imminently.
The visual projections from WXCHARTS earmark Wednesday, January 29 as the potential date for a blanket of snow to descend upon us anew after last week’s sub-zero chill left parts of the UK shrouded in white.
Shades of purple on the charts paint a picture of snowfall originating from the north-west in the pre-dawn hours, although precipitation could manifest as rain for some regions. Wales might witness up to 3cm of early morning snow, with predictions that it will then shift towards Central England.
Urban centres including Manchester and Birmingham could see snow accumulations reaching 2cm, and forecasts suggest the south-east, encompassing London and Essex, might also experience wintry showers before the day concludes. Nevertheless, the prognosis indicates this cold spell might be fleeting, with rain predicted to follow shortly thereafter.
New maps show a wave of snow crashing into Britain by the end of the month, hitting more southerly regions
(Image: WXCHARTS)
Jim Dale, British Weather Services’ seasoned meteorologist, expresses scepticism about the extent of snowfall, currently spotting “Scottish mountain snow” on his radar more so than anything else. In a conversation with the Mirror, he conveyed: “Windy, possibly stormy in the north only around that time; briefly colder in the aftermath, a bit of northern snow. Nothing as yet to get one’s teeth into with any degree of certainty.”
The Met Office has acknowledged the possibility of snow but suggests that wetter, windier, and milder conditions are expected to precede any wintry precipitation. According to their long-range forecast, which is updated daily, from January 21 to 30, they predict: “The early part of next week will see fairly quiet, and for most, dry weather with variable amounts of cloud and often light winds. The greatest chance of any rain is likely to be in the far northwest of the UK, and possibly as well in the far south.”, reports the Mirror.
They also mention, “There is a small chance rain could become more widespread, especially mid-week, and temperatures are expected to be around average. Later in the week, periods of much wetter and windier weather will most likely eventually become more prevalent, from northwest to southeast. Ahead of this a colder, more settled southeasterly wind may develop for a time. There is a small chance however, that alternatively winds could turn much more easterly, and colder, bring the risk of snow showers.”
For the period from January 31 to February 14, the Met Office reiterates the potential for brief colder spells with associated frost, ice, and snow.
In their five-day forecast, the Met Office states that Friday will be rather cloudy, windy but mild across Scotland and Northern Ireland with any rain mainly over western hills. England and Wales can expect it to be largely dry but often cloudy.
Looking ahead from Saturday to Monday, the forecast remains unspoken, but the implication is that changeable weather will continue to affect the UK.
Rain and windy conditions are expected in the northwest, while central and southern England, along with parts of Wales, will see mostly cloudy skies, hill fog and patchy drizzle. Brighter spells may occur elsewhere.
The north will experience milder temperatures, while it will be colder in the south.
Get all the latest and breaking news in Yorkshire by signing up to our newsletter here.