The United Kingdom is preparing for an unusual late-spring snowfall as weather maps indicate 36 hours of wintry conditions this week. Despite recent warm spells with temperatures reaching the 20s in some areas, the mercury is forecast to plummet to as low as 0C.
Snow Forecast Details
Weather forecasting service WXCharts has predicted a blast of wintry weather arriving on Tuesday, May 12, bringing snow and freezing temperatures. The snowfall is expected to begin at midday on Tuesday and persist through to midnight on Thursday, May 14.
According to the charts, the snow will start in the Grampians at lunchtime before sweeping into western and eastern Scotland, including Aberdeen and Fort William, by evening. By midnight, the west coast of Scotland and northern England—areas such as Dumfries, Kendal, and Blackpool—could be blanketed in snow.
Wednesday morning will bring snow to central Scotland, south-east Scotland (Berwick), northern England (Manchester, York, Hull), and north Wales (Conwy). The remainder of Wednesday is expected to see scattered showers across central Scotland, northern Scotland (Wick, Inverness), and north-west England. Throughout this period, heavy rain will drench most of the UK, with the most intense downpours anticipated on Wednesday afternoon.
Temperature Drop
Temperatures are set to plummet significantly. Wednesday morning will bring the coldest conditions to central Scotland, where the thermometer could hit as low as 0C. Scotland overall is expected to see temperatures between 0C and 10C. Northern England can expect temperatures ranging from 3C to 12C; the Midlands between 5C and 13C; southern England between 6C and 15C; Wales between 4C and 10C; and Northern Ireland between 4C and 10C.
Met Office Outlook
The Met Office stated: "Rain moving southeastwards on Tuesday. This is followed on Wednesday and Thursday by sunshine and showers, heavy and thundery at times. Rather cool and often breezy. Further overnight frosts."
Looking ahead to tomorrow, the Met Office forecasts: "Cloud and rain continues southwards, clearing the UK into the evening. Sunny spells elsewhere, but a few showers over northern Scotland and eastern coasts of England, where breezy. Below-average temperatures."
For the period of May 15 to 24, the forecaster says: "Changeable and at times rather unsettled conditions look to dominate through the middle part of May, with low pressure often close by. This means periods of rain or showers, some of which could be heavy, for many places, though some drier interludes are also expected. For the most part, temperatures are likely to be close to or perhaps a little below normal, with winds often blowing from a northwesterly quadrant. By the end of this period, pressure may increase towards the southwest, which could bring more in the way of dry weather here."
Rounding off May and looking ahead into the first week of June, the Met Office adds: "Compared to earlier in the month, patterns which bring more settled weather are more likely to dominate towards the end of May. Whilst further rain and showers are possible at times, there is likely to be longer spells of fine and dry weather. Temperatures are most likely to recover close to average, perhaps becoming warm at times. Into June, more mixed conditions are likely with spells of rain and showers, but also some drier weather at times."
