New weather maps indicate a bitter cold snap could send temperatures plunging to as low as -7C across parts of Britain by Thursday, November 12, with a huge stretch of the country potentially turning white.
The latest ECMWF weather model shows freezing conditions forecast across large parts of Scotland, extending south into England and Wales. WXCharts maps, based on ECMWF data, show the mercury potentially dropping to around -7C in parts of Scotland at 6am, with temperatures of between -2C and -5C across other areas.
Snow band stretching hundreds of miles
A separate ECMWF winter overview map for the same time shows snow potentially stretching hundreds of miles down the eastern side of Britain. The chart indicates wintry conditions across parts of Scotland before a band of snow extends south through northern and eastern England.
However, with the forecast still more than a week away, the precise location and intensity of any snowfall could change significantly as the date approaches.
24 counties facing freezing conditions
The freezing conditions are expected to be most widespread north of the border, with Highland, Moray, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Angus among the areas shown below zero. Argyll and Bute, Stirling, Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders could also see temperatures tumble below freezing.
Further south, Cumbria, Northumberland, County Durham, Lancashire and North Yorkshire are among the areas where temperatures could fall to around 0C or below. The colder air also appears to reach parts of Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire as it pushes further south, while in Wales, parts of Gwynedd and Powys could experience temperatures hovering around freezing.
Overnight frost and regional variation
The wintry spell could bring a sharp change in conditions, with overnight frost possible across parts of the country. Conditions are expected to vary considerably, however, with southern England remaining noticeably milder on the same chart.
Areas facing freezing temperatures on November 12 include, in Scotland: Highland, Moray, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Stirling, South Lanarkshire, East Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway. In England: Cumbria, Northumberland, County Durham, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire. In Wales: Gwynedd and Powys.
