New weather maps show snow could affect 26 areas across the UK on Tuesday, following the coldest night of the season so far.
The latest charts from WXCharts show white and purple shading across Scotland and Northern Ireland, and even as far south as the Midlands. The forecast comes after temperatures plunged to below -6C overnight, with parts of the UK remaining under a cold weather health alert.
The Met Office recorded a low of -6.6C in Sennybridge, Powys, while temperatures fell to -6.5C in Shap, Cumbria, and Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway. Forecasters said it was the coldest night of the season so far.
Snow Spreads South on Tuesday
Weather maps indicate snow could begin affecting parts of Scotland on Monday evening before spreading further south overnight and into Tuesday. The Scottish Highlands, north-west Scotland, north-east Scotland, central Scotland and southern Scotland are among the areas likely to get the most snow.
Northern Ireland is also in the firing line, with the forecast shading extending across the region. Further south, parts of north-west England, north-east England and Yorkshire are covered by the wintry outlook.
Some of the later charts also show purple shading across parts of the Midlands, suggesting snow could even reach those areas, but they also show significant amounts of rain accompanying the predicted snowfall. This could limit how much snow settles.
26 Areas Identified
The 26 areas identified across the forecast map are:
- Scotland: Highland, Argyll and Bute, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Angus, Stirling
- Northern Ireland: County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down, County Fermanagh, County Londonderry, County Tyrone
- Northern England: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester
- Midlands: Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, West Midlands
Cold Weather Alert in Force
Met Office chief forecaster Chris Bulmer said the UK had "moved to a colder phase," with temperatures expected to remain in single figures in many areas.
A cold weather health alert, the first of the season, remains in force across the north-west of England and the West Midlands until midday on Saturday. The yellow alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), warns of increased risks to people aged over 65 and those with certain health conditions.
Looking ahead, the Met Office is forecasting more unsettled conditions, with heavier rain and showers expected to move in from the west.
