New weather maps indicate the exact date when the UK will be hit by a deep freeze, with up to seven inches of snow expected in some areas. The snow is forecast to begin on December 6, according to Metdesk forecasters, and could last for several days.
The snowfall is expected to be heaviest in the Highlands, Cumbria, and Staffordshire, where up to seven inches could accumulate. Lighter dustings are predicted in other parts of the country, including most of Wales and northern Wales. The snow is expected to reach as far south as the Cotswolds on December 6.
Temperatures are set to plummet after a brief rise following last week's cold snap. The freezing low pressure system will sweep across the UK from the northwest and move southward. Despite the cold spell, it appears unlikely to lead to a white Christmas, as temperatures are expected to rise in the week following the Arctic storm.
Meteorologists at Netweather predict heavy rainfall before temperatures drop sufficiently for snow. Nick Finnis warned of potential flooding issues in the west and far south, with spring tides possibly bringing a risk of coastal flooding. The BBC Weather forecast for December 1 to 7 noted that a weakening front could bring rain farther south and east, but the risk of colder flows developing remains if high pressure positions itself differently over Scandinavia.
