Up to 10cm of snow is forecast to fall across parts of the UK this weekend as the first cold snap of the season takes hold and yellow cold health alerts come into force. Overnight temperatures are expected to plunge as low as -6°C over the coming days, bringing harsh, widespread frosts before low pressure and weather fronts move in from the Atlantic.
Snow risk across northern Scotland
According to the Met Office’s latest 10-day trend, the most significant snow risk will arrive across northern Scotland on Saturday night (14 November) into Sunday (15 November) as incoming rain meets the cold air already sitting over the country.
While some snow could temporarily reach lower levels, the heaviest accumulations are expected over higher ground. Forecasters say around 2cm is possible above 200 metres, with several centimetres accumulating over higher routes and between 5cm and 10cm potentially settling over the tops of the hills.
First cold health alert of the season
Ahead of the wintry weekend weather, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued its first yellow cold health alert of the season. The alert covers the North West and the West Midlands from 9am on Thursday (12 November) until noon on Saturday, warning that the drop in temperature could lead to increased demand on healthcare services and pose a greater risk to life for vulnerable people. Other regions of England are currently unaffected.
Dr Anya Gopfert, consultant in public health at UKHSA, said: "This is the first cold-health alert of the winter, but we can expect more as we move further into the season. Cold weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, so it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours who are most vulnerable," she added. Dr Gopfert said heating homes properly and dressing warmly can help people stay safe during the cold spell.
Icy mornings and weekend outlook
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon warned motorists to prepare for icy mornings, noting that drivers can expect to scrape their cars as the late-autumn chill settles in. "The UK is heading towards what will feel like the first cold spell in late autumn, with temperatures likely to drop down towards minus 6C overnight for some in the coming days and a fairly harsh frost likely for some," Mr Dixon said.
Thursday night is expected to bring one of the most widespread frosts of the autumn so far, followed by a cold, bright Friday for many with daytime highs of 6°C to 8°C and further frost into Saturday morning.
Conditions will turn more unsettled over the weekend:
Saturday: Much of the Midlands, eastern and south-eastern England will start dry, sunny and frosty, while rain becomes widespread across northern and central Scotland. Further showers will affect northern England and north Wales.
Sunday: Snow in northern Scotland will gradually ease into lower-level rain, while cloud and patchy rain spread into western areas and Northern Ireland. Up to 30mm of rain could fall widely across the day, particularly in the west, while England and Wales remain largely dry but increasingly cloudy.
Next week: A powerful Atlantic jet stream is expected to drive a large area of low pressure across the UK from later Monday (16 November), bringing milder air, fewer frosty nights, and spells of heavy rain and strengthening winds for much of the country - though colder Arctic air and further hill snow could linger in northern Scotland.
