Arctic winds are set to bring bitterly cold weather to the UK this weekend, with snow, hail and thunderstorms forecast for parts of Britain. On Friday, snow fell on peaks in northern Scotland, and other highland areas are expected to be affected.
Nicola Maxey, a Met Office spokesperson, said: “Certainly got some snow expected for northern Scotland for today and tomorrow. There’s a chance we might see some resting on top of the hills in northern England as well.” Northern Ireland could also see patchy snow with a light dusting on high ground.
Central areas may remain dry and see some sun over the weekend, but the cold weather will persist. In London on Saturday, temperatures are expected to be around seven or eight degrees Celsius, though the wind chill could make it feel like one to three degrees. “It’s that cold really that most people will notice. Cooler temperatures and the wind chill effect. Arctic wind is going to be a feature for most people,” added Ms Maxey.
There will be a risk of ice and frost overnight, with cold winds coming from the north. Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said there will be a “chilly start” across the UK on Saturday, with temperatures “sub zero in the countryside”. Heavy rain and hail showers are possible in Northern Ireland, Wales, the south west and parts of eastern England on Saturday morning.
Thunderstorms are most likely near the coast in eastern England. Looking ahead to next week, Ms Maxey said there could be more snow in northern Scotland on Tuesday, but there is “a lot of uncertainty”. The Met Office’s five-day forecast indicates generally colder conditions with strong northerly winds and heavy showers.
