The Met Office has issued a UK snow forecast warning that up to 10cm could fall in parts of the country this weekend, as the first cold snap of the season grips the nation
Up to 10cm of snow is forecast to descend on parts of the UK this weekend as the season’s first cold snap tightens its grip on the nation.
The snow warning comes as forecasters have warned 47 counties are set to be battered with snow next week. According to the Met Office’s latest 10-day outlook, the greatest snow risk will emerge across northern Scotland on Saturday night (14 November) into Sunday (15 November) as incoming rain meets the freezing air already sitting over the area.
While some snow may briefly reach lower altitudes, the heaviest falls are expected over higher ground. Forecasters suggest around 2cm is likely above 200 metres, with several centimetres building over elevated routes and between 5cm and 10cm potentially piling up over the hilltops.
Ahead of the wintry weekend weather, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued its first yellow cold health alert of the season, reports Chronicle Live.
The alert covers the North West and the West Midlands from 9am on Thursday (12 November) until noon on Saturday. It warns the temperature plunge could lead to mounting pressure on healthcare services and pose a greater risk to life for vulnerable people. Other parts of England remain unaffected.
Dr Anya Gopfert, consultant in public health at UKHSA, said: “This is the first cold-health alert of the winter, but we can expect more as we move further into the season.
“Cold weather can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, so it is vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours who are most vulnerable.”
Weather patterns are expected to turn progressively more turbulent throughout the weekend.
Saturday’s forecast:
Large parts of the Midlands, eastern and south-eastern England will start dry, bright and frosty, while rainfall becomes widespread throughout northern and central Scotland.
Additional downpours will affect northern England and north Wales.
Sunday’s forecast :
Snowfall in northern Scotland will steadily transition into lower-level rainfall, while cloud and sporadic rain extends into western regions and Northern Ireland. As much as 30mm of precipitation could fall widely during the day, especially in the west, while England and Wales stay mostly dry but progressively more cloudy.
Next week’s forecast:
Forecasters believe snow could hit the UK next week on Monday morning (November 16) at around 9am, and intermittent flurries will extend to Tuesday (November 17) afternoon.
Sub-zero temperatures are expecting to freeze the country as it appear the winter weather will stick around. Snow is forecasted to fall across the UK, meteorologists claim.
However making an accurate prediction on snow can be difficult as the slightest change in the conditions can prevent it falling. The Met Office has added northern Scotland has the greatest chance of seeing a white Monday.
Early on Friday the Met Office stated: “Unsettled with spells of rain or showers Sunday and Monday. Rain in the south on Tuesday, with some hill snow possible. Brighter with showers elsewhere. Often windy and feeling cold.”
The 47 counties expected to see snow on Monday and Tuesday are:
Scotland
- Aberdeenshire
- Argyll and Bute
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Highland
- Perth and Kinross
- Scottish Borders
- Stirling
Wales
- Blaenau Gwent
- Caerphilly
- Carmarthenshire
- Ceredigion
- Conwy
- Denbighshire
- Flintshire
- Gwynedd
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Monmouthshire
- Neath Port Talbot
- Powys
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Wrexham
England
- Bedfordshire
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Cheshire
- Cumbria
- Derbyshire
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- Gloucestershire
- Greater Manchester
- Herefordshire
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Merseyside
- Northamptonshire
- North Yorkshire
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- Rutland
- Shropshire
- South Yorkshire
- Staffordshire
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands
- West Yorkshire
- Worcestershire