Weather forecasting models indicate that the first significant snowfall of the season could arrive later this month, with snow potentially falling in up to 34 counties across the UK on November 17.
Met Office forecasters have already stated that "wintry showers are likely" as the second half of November approaches, and the ECMWF model shows the first flurries could land in the early hours of November 17.
Snow expected to move southward
According to the data, the snow is likely to hit Northern Ireland and western parts of Scotland first before moving southward, eventually falling in England and Wales as well. Maps for 6am on November 17 show snow falling as far south as Devon.
At midday, the ECMWF model shows most of the snow will be focused around the Lake District and the North Pennines. However, the flurries are not expected to carry on long into the afternoon, and the data suggests snow will only really settle over higher ground in Scotland.
Counties affected by the snowfall
The maps indicate that snow could fall in up to 34 counties across the UK on November 17. In England, the affected counties include Cumbria, Northumberland, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Herefordshire, Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall.
In Scotland, snow is forecast for Sutherland, Ross-shire and Cromartyshire, Inverness-shire, Argyllshire, Perthshire, Nairnshire, Banffshire, Morayshire, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Stirlingshire, Dunbarton, Lanarkshire, West Lothian, Midlothian, East Lothian, Peeblesshire, Selkirkshire, Dumfriesshire, and Berwickshire.
Wales could see snow in Merioneth, Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire, Ceredigion, and Brecknockshire, while Northern Ireland's Tyrone is also on the list.
Met Office forecast for the coming weeks
In its forecast for November 11 to November 20, the Met Office says "wintry showers are likely" in northern areas, although "fine and dry" conditions could develop elsewhere. "A change to more changeable weather is likely" later in the month, the Met Office adds, as Atlantic frontal systems will bring "rain and some strong winds". Temperatures are expected to be cold at the start of the period, but will "probably be above average overall".
The Met Office forecast for November 21 to December 5 says: "Changeable or unsettled conditions are expected through the last part of November. Atlantic frontal systems are likely to spread across the UK, bringing some heavy rain at times and a chance of strong winds. Drier, brighter interludes are likely between systems, and it is possible conditions could become drier overall into early December. Temperatures are likely to be above normal overall."
