New weather maps point to Tuesday, November 17, as a date to watch for snow across parts of the UK, with the strongest signal over Scotland's higher ground as the country enters a colder phase.
The latest WXCharts maps, valid at 3am and 9am, show a band of wintry precipitation affecting parts of the country in the early hours of Tuesday. Areas of white shading indicate snow depth, with the most concentrated coverage over Scotland, particularly northern areas. The charts suggest some wintry conditions could persist into Tuesday morning, although the precise areas affected could change as the forecast develops.
Colder Phase and Overnight Lows
The Met Office has warned that the UK has entered a colder phase, with daytime temperatures expected to remain in single figures for many places. Chief Forecaster Chris Bulmer said overnight temperatures on Friday could fall to between -4C and -6C in some locations, bringing another significant ground frost.
The weather is then expected to turn more unsettled over the weekend, with heavier rain and showers moving in from the west. Over higher ground in north-west Scotland, some of this precipitation is likely to fall as snow.
Changeable Outlook from Sunday
Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Steven Keates said the outlook from Sunday would be changeable, with spells of rain, sleet and some hill snow. He said low pressure would bring rain or showers to many areas on Sunday, with the most persistent precipitation expected across northern Scotland.
There is an increasing chance of snow developing there later in the day, mainly over high ground where accumulations are likely. However, the Met Office warned that some snow could also fall to lower levels.
Conditions Continuing into Next Week
The unsettled and cold conditions are expected to continue into next week, with rain, sleet and mainly hill snow among the key features. The Met Office forecast said: "Colder, but sunnier on Monday. Wintry showers in the far north, with rain, and hill snow moving north across the UK into Tuesday. Brighter, but colder again for most midweek."
While the latest model charts point to Tuesday as another date to watch, the Met Office forecast currently highlights the greatest snow risk over Scotland's hills and mountains.
