Britons are facing a 'second winter' this week, with snow expected to fall within hours across multiple regions. Advanced weather modelling maps from the GFS show flurries could hit south-west England, Wales, the Midlands, northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland as early as tomorrow.
The snow is predicted to begin at around 6am in western parts of Northern Ireland, Wales and north-west England, with more intense snowfall expected in Scotland, particularly in the far north. By 3pm, light snow is forecast for cities including Stoke, Manchester and Newcastle, with Devon also potentially affected.
Temperatures are set to plummet, with the GFS model indicating lows of -4C in Scotland at midday on Thursday, -3C in northern England, and -1C in Wales, the Midlands and parts of southern England. The Met Office has warned of overnight lows potentially reaching -5C in rural Scotland on Wednesday.
Meteorologist Laura Tobin explained on Good Morning Britain that the 'second winter' is due to movements in the jet stream bringing cold air to the UK, despite last week recording the warmest day of the year so far. The Met Office forecast states that by Wednesday, it will feel markedly colder across all parts, with rain, sleet and hail showers widely expected, and snow likely over higher ground in the north.
Thursday is expected to bring dry spells and sunshine for most, but cloud and rain will push into Northern Ireland and western parts later. Temperatures are forecast to return closer to average from Friday onwards, though further weather systems may affect the UK at the weekend, particularly in northern areas.
