The Met Office has pinpointed the end of the Arctic chill gripping Britain, but warns that a deluge is on the horizon. The nation has been shivering through a cold snap, with Braemar in Aberdeenshire hitting a teeth-chattering low of -11.2°C on Tuesday, and snow blanketing parts of the UK, including 12cm in Watnall, Nottinghamshire.
More flurries are expected to dust areas as far south as Suffolk and Carmarthenshire on Wednesday. However, forecasters have some good news: the icy Arctic airmass is set to retreat by Saturday, allowing temperatures to climb once more. But don’t put away your brollies just yet, as this shift will usher in heavy showers across vast regions, with north Wales, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, and parts of West Yorkshire bracing for the worst of it.
(Image: PA)
Sunday’s forecast doesn’t offer much respite, particularly for the South West, which is predicted to be battered by intense rainfall. On the flip side, thermometers in the East of England could show a balmy 16C on Sunday, a stark contrast to today’s frosty weather.
Mike Silverstone, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, cautions: “A deep area of low pressure looks likely to influence the UK’s weather this weekend. While this will bring in milder air to most parts, it also brings with it some heavy rain and strong winds at times. It’s too early for precise detail, but there’s a potential for further warnings.”, reports the Mirror.
Blustery breezes are set to hit the south coast of England this Saturday, with Hampshire to East Sussex expecting gusts over 40mph, say Ventusky forecasters. The recent snow dump caused travel turmoil, with Northern Rail services disrupted and over 200 schools shuttered nationwide.
Now, ice poses a new threat following the snow, prompting weather warnings for snow and ice across the UK, including Greater London, the Home Counties, and parts of the Midlands. The Met Office warns on their website: “Rain, sleet and snow will continue to clear southwards across England and Wales with clearing skies to follow. Temperatures are expected to fall below or close to freezing quite widely across the warning area with icy patches forming on untreated freezing surfaces.”
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