Swathes of the country could be hit by snow this week – use our map to find out if you’re affected
Heavy snow is forecast to fall across multiple parts of Scotland this week as temperatures plummet amid a blast of arctic weather. Widespread cold conditions and some wintry hazards are predicted right across the UK in the coming days.
The Met Office has confirmed that snow and ice are possible following a period of above-average temperatures, with high pressure expected to bring widespread cold conditions across the UK. It says the most significant factor bringing in the colder weather is a change in wind direction.
The UK recorded its coldest night since March on Saturday when temperatures dropped to minus 7C in Tulloch Bridge in the Highlands.
Multiple Yellow National Severe Weather Warnings for ice and snow affecting parts of Scotland and northern England from Monday to Thursday have been issued.
Chief forecaster Paul Gundersen said: “Scattered showers feed into the northeast and far north of mainland Scotland on Monday night, bringing a risk of icy conditions on roads and pavements.
“An area of rain will reach the west of Scotland early on Tuesday morning, with a risk of this turning to snow as it moves inland. Whilst there is some uncertainty as to the exact track and extent, a period of snow is likely over high ground, with accumulations of 2-5 cm possible above about 150 metres in elevation, and as much as 5-10 cm above 400 metres. This period of snow could bring some disruption to travel and infrastructure across higher parts of Scotland.”
The Met Office’s deputy chief meteorologist, Dan Holley, said “high pressure to the northwest will drive a cold northerly flow from the Arctic across the UK” this week.
You can check the forecast using our interactive weather map to see if snow is expected near you.
He added: “This will bring much colder conditions than of late and, whilst generally drier than recent days, there will also be a risk of wintry hazards, such as snow and ice.
“There will be widespread frosts across the UK, with temperatures dipping as low as -7C in places, and daytime temperatures staying in single figures across the country. Couple this with a brisk northerly wind, and there will be a marked wind chill.”
According to the forecast site OpenWeather, the snow could arrive in parts of Scotland and the North East on Monday.
Then, from Tuesday, heavy snowfall is expected to hit parts of the UK. Snow is predicted at multiple locations, ranging from as far north as Orkney, to as far south as Bodmin in Devon.
The UK Health Security Agency has issued a cold weather warning, effective from today (November 17), which will remain in place until Friday. It covers the East Midlands, West Midlands, North East, North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber.
The Met Office list of areas in the snow warning includes:
- Central, Tayside & Fife
- Grampian
- Highlands & Eilean Siar
- Strathclyde
And Scottish areas among the 20 affected by the ice warning are:
Central, Tayside & Fife
- Clackmannanshire
- Falkirk
- Fife
- Perth and Kinross
- Stirling
SW Scotland, Lothian Borders
- Dumfries and Galloway
- East Lothian
- Edinburgh
- Midlothian Council
- Scottish Borders
- West Lothian
Strathclyde
- East Ayrshire
- East Dunbartonshire
- North Lanarkshire
- South Ayrshire
- South Lanarkshire
