The latest Met Office weather maps show that Greater Manchester could see snow early next week, as the UK braces for its first cold snap of the season. Cold weather alerts are in place across the North West and West Midlands over the weekend, with temperatures expected to plunge to -6C overnight in parts of the country.
First cold spell of late autumn
Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said: “The UK is heading towards what will feel like the first cold spell in late autumn, with temperatures likely to drop down towards minus 6C overnight for some in the coming days and a fairly harsh frost likely for some.”
He added that the main weather of note is the possibility of snow over higher ground in northern Scotland, which is not unusual for this time of year but could see a couple of centimetres accumulating over the very highest ground.
Mr Dixon noted unsettled weather in the north west of the UK, with rain expected across western parts of Scotland on Saturday. By Sunday, conditions are set to turn more widely unsettled, with rain spreading across much of the country and some potentially heavy showers at times.
Snow expected across the region
According to the forecast, snow will arrive in Greater Manchester at around 9pm on Monday night and continue throughout the night. Wigan, Bolton, Oldham, Tameside, Rochdale and Bury are all in areas where snow is expected to fall, with sleet and snow also forecast overnight on Monday for these boroughs.
The cold snap is set to move into next week, with the latest Met Office weather maps showing a band of snow moving across the country throughout Monday and Tuesday. Up to 30 millimetres of rain could fall fairly widely on Sunday, particularly in the west.
Health warnings issued
The UKHSA said the colder weather can lead to increased use of healthcare services and greater risk to life for vulnerable people. Dr Anya Gopfert, consultant in public health at UKHSA, said: “This is the first cold-health alert of the winter, but we can expect more as we move further into the season.”
She added that cold weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, so it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours who are most vulnerable. Dr Gopfert said heating homes and dressing warmly can help people stay safe during the cold weather.
