Met Office Predicts Snow Showers for Northern and Eastern UK This Friday
The Met Office has issued a weather forecast indicating that snow could impact significant portions of the United Kingdom as early as Friday. This prediction follows a week characterised by persistently unsettled conditions, with heavy rainfall expected across various regions.
A Week of Unsettled Weather Precedes Potential Snowfall
According to the national weather agency, this week will see generally miserable conditions, beginning with outbreaks of rain and drizzle on Tuesday. Southern areas are bracing for heavy rain, which will later give way to sunshine and showers. The Met Office notes that other regions will remain cloudy and damp throughout the day.
The forecast remains largely unchanged for the subsequent days. From Wednesday onwards, conditions are expected to stay unsettled, with further outbreaks of rain affecting many areas. A notable shift is anticipated by Friday, as the weather turns colder and brighter, setting the stage for potential wintry precipitation.
Specific Regions Identified for Snow Risk
The Met Office has explicitly named the north and east of the UK as the areas most likely to experience snow showers on Friday. This cold snap follows the week's rainy spells and could bring flurries to these regions.
BBC Weather corroborates this outlook, forecasting a generally cloudy start to Tuesday with occasional spots of rain. Bright spells and a few showers are expected in the late afternoon, before conditions turn overcast and wet from the west in the evening. The rest of the week will see extensive cloud and patchy light rain on Wednesday, with longer spells of rain overnight. Thursday will remain cloudy and wet with intermittent light rain, while Friday is predicted to be cloudy with light rain initially, turning mostly dry later as temperatures drop, bringing the chance of odd wintry showers.
Active Weather Warnings for Scotland
The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for rain across parts of northern and eastern Scotland this week. A warning for Tuesday is in effect from 9am until midnight, with up to 60mm of rainfall anticipated, raising concerns about potential flooding.
Areas covered by Tuesday's rain warning include:
- Central, Tayside & Fife: Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross
- Grampian: Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray
A second warning follows on Wednesday, spanning the entire day, with another 60mm of rain possible. This alert also notes that snow could accumulate above 300 metres, particularly in Aberdeenshire, Angus, and Perthshire.
Areas covered by Wednesday's rain warning include:
- Central, Tayside & Fife: Angus, Dundee, Fife, Perth and Kinross
- Grampian: Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
Long-Range Forecast Suggests Continued Unsettled Conditions
Looking further ahead, the Met Office's long-range forecast for February 14 to 23 indicates that more miserable weather is likely later in the month. After a briefly quieter and colder spell, Atlantic frontal zones are expected to return near the start of this period.
These depressions may track slightly further north than in preceding weeks but will continue to bring broadly unsettled weather to many areas, with further spells of rain and potentially strong winds at times. While a westerly influence should make conditions somewhat milder for many, there remains a chance that colder conditions could affect northern and northeastern parts intermittently.
