The Met Office has forecast a return to wet and windy conditions across the UK from Wednesday, with heavy downpours and snow expected in parts of the country. Weather maps from WX Charts show wintry precipitation sweeping across Scotland and northern England as a low pressure system intensifies over the North Sea.
Rain will fall as snow on higher ground, although forecasters say it will not be heavy or widespread. The Met Office's forecast for Wednesday states: 'A mix of sunshine and showers across the UK. Some of the showers heavy with hail and thunder, even some wintriness over the Scottish mountains. Brisk and chilly northwesterly winds.'
According to WXCharts.com, the initial snow showers are predicted to arrive across northern Scotland by Tuesday evening, before spreading south-east throughout the night. By midnight, wintry outbreaks are expected across eastern Scotland and parts of northern England, particularly over elevated routes and exposed hillsides.
Snowfall beginning on Tuesday is forecast to persist until early Thursday. Maps indicate it will commence in the Grampians at lunchtime, then push into west and east Scotland, including Aberdeen and Fort William, by the evening. Later, areas along the west coast of Scotland and northern England, such as Dumfries, Kendal and Blackpool, could see snow.
By Wednesday morning, central Scotland, south-east Scotland including Berwick, northern England including Manchester, York and Hull, and north Wales may also receive a dusting. The remainder of Wednesday is predicted to bring scattered showers across central and northern Scotland and north-west England, with the heaviest downpours expected on Wednesday afternoon.
This marks a stark contrast to the recent sunny and warm weather. The Met Office recorded 16.1°C in Exeter, Devon, and 15.9°C in Killowen, County Down, on Monday, with more than 12 hours of sunshine in Prestwick, South Ayrshire.
