Weather forecasting models indicate that daytime temperatures could fall below 0C for three consecutive days in the UK next week, with 24 counties expected to feel the deep freeze.
According to GFS weather model readings, temperatures will begin to drop from November 11, initially in Scotland before the cold spreads to England and Wales. The mercury could plunge as low as -3C in northern Scotland at around 6pm.
Temperature maps show widespread cold
Minimum possible temperature maps for 6pm on November 12 show lows of -1C in southern Scotland and Wales, while temperatures could drop to -2C over the North Pennines in northern England. The same data shows highs of just 4C in and around London, with East Anglia being the warmest area at 6C.
Similarly chilly conditions could follow on November 13, with the North Pennines again the coolest at -1C. Temperatures in London could be as low as 4C at 6pm, with 2-3C in the Midlands and South Wales.
Counties affected by freezing temperatures
In total, the GFS model suggests 24 counties will see daytime temperatures drop below freezing across the three days. They are all in Scotland, Wales or northern England.
The affected counties include Cumbria, Northumberland, Lancashire and Herefordshire in England; Ross-shire and Cromartyshire, Inverness-shire, Banffshire, Argyllshire, Perthshire, Aberdeenshire, Stirlingshire, Dunbarton, Lanarkshire, West Lothian, Midlothian, Ayrshire, Dumfriesshire, Peeblesshire, Selkirkshire and Roxburghshire in Scotland; and Denbighshire, Merioneth, Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire in Wales.
Met Office warns of wintry showers
The Met Office has said “wintry showers” could come to some parts of the UK later this month, along with colder temperatures. Its forecast for November 9 to November 18 states: “There is a greater chance that at least the southern half of the UK will see a change to milder and wetter conditions, at least for a time, while the north is more likely to remain drier.
“Toward the end of next week we may start to see some colder conditions spread from the north to much of, if not all of the UK, but while the nature of this colder outbreak is very uncertain, it could bring some wintry showers to the northern UK briefly, with the south trending drier once again.”
