The UK is braced for a sharp return to wintry conditions, with forecasters predicting further snow and a rare weather phenomenon known as freezing rain. Temperatures are set to tumble, reaching as low as -4C in the coming days, creating hazardous travel conditions and a significant chill.
Widespread Snow and a Rare Icy Hazard
According to the latest weather maps, a band of low pressure sweeping from the north will bring a mix of snow and freezing rain from Sunday night into Monday morning. The most intense wintry showers are expected during the early hours of Monday.
Snow is forecast to fall as far south as Greater Manchester, although significant settling is considered unlikely. The real concern, however, lies with the predicted freezing rain, which the Met Office has described as a 'rare phenomenon' for the UK.
What is Freezing Rain and Where Will It Hit?
Freezing rain is a type of liquid precipitation that falls and instantly turns to ice upon contact with cold surfaces at ground level. This creates a clear, glazed layer of ice on roads, pavements, trees, and power lines.
The Met Office has issued stark warnings about its potential dangers, stating: "The weight of the ice can sometimes be heavy enough to bring down trees and power lines, and the glaze of ice on the ground effectively turns roads and pathways into an ice rink." It also poses a severe hazard to aircraft.
The heaviest conditions are anticipated across most of Scotland, Northumberland, Cumbria, and County Durham. Residents in these regions are likely to wake up to widespread ground frost and treacherous, icy roads on Monday.
Temperature Plunge and Meteorological Context
This cold snap marks a dramatic shift from the recent milder weather, which saw temperatures reach 16C in Hawarden, north Wales, just days ago. The sharp drop is partly attributed to high winds coming in from the North Atlantic, with western and northern areas expected to feel the brunt of the cold.
Steven Keates, Deputy Chief Meteorologist at the Met Office, commented on the uncertainty, saying: "Confidence is high that the weekend will be unsettled, but there remains some uncertainty over the exact track of the low-pressure system. Small shifts in its path could significantly affect where the heaviest rain and strongest winds occur."
As the nation prepares for this bout of severe winter weather, the public is advised to stay updated with the latest Met Office warnings and plan for potentially disruptive travel conditions early next week.
