The Met Office has issued a stark warning that 'extensive' snow could fall across parts of the UK this weekend, releasing detailed maps pinpointing the exact locations at risk. Britons are bracing for an unsettled period as forecasters outline three distinct low-pressure scenarios for Saturday, two of which have the potential to bring significant snowfall.
Three Potential Weekend Weather Scenarios
According to the national weather service, confidence is high that the weekend will be unsettled, but the exact track of a low-pressure system remains uncertain. This uncertainty has led meteorologists to model three possible outcomes, each with varying probabilities and impacts for different regions.
Steven Keates, Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, stated: "Confidence is high that the weekend will be unsettled, but there remains some uncertainty over the exact track of the low-pressure system. Small shifts in its path could significantly affect where the heaviest rain and strongest winds occur."
Scenario One: The Most Likely Outcome
The first and most probable scenario, given a 45% chance of happening, would see the low-pressure system track from the south-west of England towards East Anglia. This path would result in heavy rain across most of Wales, central England, and southern England.
Critically, this setup would also bring snow over the southern parts of the Pennines. Additionally, coastal gales are expected on North Sea coasts and potentially along the south coast, adding to the disruptive conditions.
Scenario Two: A Weaker System
The second possible outcome, with a 35% probability, involves a weaker low-pressure system tracking along the south coast of England. Under this scenario, southern counties would experience rain, which could be heavy at times.
However, no snow is expected if this particular weather pattern materialises, offering a reprieve for those concerned about wintry conditions.
Scenario Three: Potential for 'Extensive' Snow
The third and least likely scenario, with a 20% probability, could be the most impactful for some regions. This would involve the low-pressure system tracking from the Irish Sea, across the UK, and towards the north-east of England.
This path has the potential to bring the promised 'extensive' snow to hills in northern England and North Wales. Lower-lying regions in the path of this system would instead see heavy rain. Coastal areas north of the low-pressure system could also experience strong easterly winds.
Current Weather Warnings in Force
This weekend's uncertainty comes as a yellow wind warning is currently in force for parts of western and northern Scotland. This warning is active from 4pm on Wednesday, November 27th, until 11am on Thursday, November 28th.
Forecasters predict gusts reaching 60mph to 70mph in exposed coastal locations, with isolated spots possibly exceeding 75mph at times. The Met Office has warned that these conditions could result in travel disruption and affect outdoor activities.
The Met Office continues to monitor the situation closely and will update its forecasts as the weekend approaches and the expected path of the low-pressure system becomes clearer.
