Parts of the UK could face a significant snowfall event, according to the latest weather maps from WXCharts. The projections indicate that wintry conditions will arrive over Scotland and sections of northern England from approximately 6pm on Sunday, May 10, and could persist for up to 24 hours, extending as far south as Leicester by 6pm on Monday, May 11.
Heavy Snowfall Expected in Scotland and Northern England
Forecasters predict the heaviest snowfall will be concentrated across central and eastern Scotland, particularly around Glasgow and Aberdeen. Scattered snow flurries are also expected in Manchester, Cumbria, and Leicester. In addition to snow, intermittent rainfall is forecast across much of the UK on Sunday evening, including near London in the southeast.
Temperature Plunge After Warm Spell
This cold snap follows a period of unseasonably warm weather, with temperatures reaching up to 25°C last week. However, the upcoming wintry blast will bring a sharp temperature drop, with lows of -8°C in Scotland and near-freezing conditions in northern England. The Met Office's long-range forecast for May 10 to May 19 warns of "heavy and locally thundery" rain showers across parts of England and Wales, alongside "widely unsettled conditions" and temperatures "near or below average, especially in the north, with an ongoing risk of overnight rural frost."
Recent Temperatures and Short-Term Forecast
Despite the impending cold, recent days have seen above-average temperatures. The Met Office recorded a high of 17.6°C on Thursday at Heathrow Airport in west London, and 17°C in various Midlands locations such as Coton in the Elms in Derbyshire and Redditch in Worcestershire.
The Met Office's short-term forecast for today predicts cloudy conditions across the north with heavy showers later in northern England. Elsewhere, sunny spells will be interspersed with further showers, heaviest across Wales, the Midlands, and southern and eastern England. Temperatures will be slightly warmer for most but cooler in the northwest. Tonight, evening showers will fade, leaving clear spells, though some rain may persist in far northern England. Local frost is expected in the northwest, with rural grass frost and isolated fog patches in the south. Saturday will see a band of rain moving south across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern England, with scattered heavy showers in Wales and the Midlands. Brighter conditions are expected further north, with warm weather in the south but colder temperatures further north.
