The Met Office has issued weather warnings for gale-force winds and snow across parts of the UK, as a cold snap is set to replace the recent mild weather. After last Thursday saw the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching 19.2°C in Northolt, London, conditions are expected to turn significantly colder and windier from Thursday onwards.
Yellow weather warnings for wind are in place on Thursday across Scotland, northern England, the Midlands, Wales, Yorkshire, and Northern Ireland. Gusts of 50 to 55 mph are widely expected, with some coastal and upland areas potentially experiencing gusts of up to 70 mph. The warnings are active from 5am to 8pm for most areas, with Northern Ireland's warning ending around midday.
A separate snow and ice warning covers central and northwest Scotland from midnight to 9am on Friday. The Met Office forecasts 2-5 cm of snow in Aberdeenshire and the Highlands, with up to 10 cm possible on higher ground. This could lead to travel disruption and hazardous conditions on roads and pavements.
Jason Kelly, chief operational meteorologist at the Met Office, said: “A notable shift in wind direction to a northwesterly flow will bring a markedly colder day nationwide on Friday, with the potential for a mixture of sunny spells, heavy showers, coastal gales, and snow over high ground. There’s also the possibility of accumulations on lower hills, too.”
Temperatures on Friday are expected to peak at just 7-9°C, feeling like 1-5°C due to blustery winds. The unsettled weather is set to continue into the weekend, with further rain, showers, and hill snow forecast, before another area of rain arrives from the west on Monday.
