Great Brrritain: Parts of UK to shiver in sub-zero temperatures as Arctic chill brings bursts of snow, sleet and rain

Wet weather and cold Arctic air are expected to bring ‘difficult, slippery conditions’ to the UK on Tuesday, the Met Office said.

The weather for the next seven days will be ‘markedly colder’ than it was last week, with ‘harsh frost’ expected towards the end of the week, the forecaster said.

The Met Office has issued multiple yellow weather warnings for snow and ice affecting parts of Scotland and northern England from Monday to Thursday, with sub-zero temperatures expected during the first cold snap of the winter.

With gusty winds, thunder and lightning all predicted, some of those snow showers could even lead to ‘thundersnow’ – a thunderstorm that precipitates snow rather than rain. 

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said cold air is coming from Siberia and crossing over the Arctic ocean to the UK.

As much as eight inches of snow could fall on high ground leaving some communities ‘cut off’, while lower levels could receive up to two inches.

It comes after temperatures fell to -7C (19.4F) on Saturday night in Tulloch Bridge, in the Scottish Highlands, the lowest since 20 March.

Meanwhile, the UK Health Security Agency has issued cold weather health alerts across England lasting until Saturday – alerting public services to extra demands in the chilly weather.

Daytime temperatures in some parts of North East England could barely rise above freezing and will only be in the low single figures in the South, with London just 5C (41F) on Thursday. 

Forecasters said overnight temperatures could fall to lows of -10c (14F) in parts of Scotland and -6c (21F) in northern England overnight Thursday into Friday, which is set to be the coldest night.

Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster Tom Crabtree said: ‘Wednesday to Friday will be the coldest part of the week, and this period has the greatest potential for impactful weather, with multiple warnings in place.

‘Wintry snow showers are expected to extend south through Wednesday and into Thursday, mainly affecting north facing coastal areas.

‘Although many places will see plenty of sunshine, daytime temperatures will be well-below average, with a widespread frost setting in during the evening, especially in sheltered areas.’

Wet weather is expected across Scotland, Northern Ireland, and northern and western parts of England and Wales on Tuesday.

‘With that cold air we have across us, no wonder we are going to see some sleet and snow mixed in with that as well,’ Mr Burkill added.

Icy patches are expected across the country on Tuesday, which may lead to some ‘difficult, slippery conditions’, and parts of Scotland may see snow.

Temperatures will be on the ‘low side’ in the north where they are ‘below average for this time of year’, but they will be ‘closer to normal’ in the south on Tuesday.

Mr Burkill said the temperature is going to be ‘markedly colder’ than it was this time last week.

He continued: ‘There is an area of low pressure that’s pushing its way southwards as we go through Tuesday night and into Wednesday, and that’s bringing the focus for that burst of showery rain, with a bit of sleet, bit of hill snow mixed in, but a lot of that is going to be clearing away towards the south as we go through the morning.

‘I’m not sure how much wintry stuff we’re going to see across the southern areas, mostly just falling as rain.

‘Then once that clears away, we just have this brisk northerly wind that’s piling down, the Arctic air coming through.

‘And because of the direction that that wind is coming from, it’s really pivotal to where we see further showery bursts of rain, sleet and snow.

‘So yes, northern parts of Scotland seeing plenty, and also down the eastern side of England and eastern Scotland as well – plenty of these rain, sleet and snow showers.’

Temperatures for much of the UK will be down ‘a couple of degrees’ on Wednesday, including across the south where it will turn colder than average for this time of year.

‘Watch out for some brisk winds, particularly towards the west, could be close to gales through both Wednesday and Thursday,’ Mr Burkill said.

‘That will add to the cold feel for many places, too.’

On Thursday, northern areas are more likely to have sleet and snow with some showers across western parts.

Scotland and the eastern side of northern England can expect snow, which might cause ‘some disruption’.

Thursday night into Friday will be a ‘particularly chilly night’ with ‘widespread harsh frost’.

Rain will sweep in across Northern Ireland and then feed into western parts of Scotland, Wales and England.

The east will be dry and brighter but the rain will push through later on.

Further rain is expected at the weekend but the air will be milder so the temperatures will rise.